The deployment is
part of the company’s phased strategy to transition towards electric and
alternative-fuel vehicles across its logistics operations, reducing the carbon
footprint of cargo transportation while maintaining operational
efficiency. In a filing with the stock
exchanges, the company said the new electric trucks would complement its
existing fleet of alternative-fuel vehicles deployed across key logistics
corridors. Jindal Stainless currently
operates 80 liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered trucks to transport finished
goods from its Jajpur and Hisar facilities to western India. It has also begun
deploying compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered trucks to transport import cargo
from Dhamra Port to its Jajpur plant.
In addition, the company has introduced 60 CNG buses for employee
transportation at its Hisar and Jajpur facilities. The company plans to expand its electric
and alternative-fuel vehicle fleet in phases across suitable routes, depending
on the operational requirements of individual logistics corridors. Together, these vehicles are expected to
handle approximately 8,000 to 10,000 tonnes of cargo a month, according to the
company. Jindal Stainless estimates
that its combination of electric, CNG and LNG vehicles could reduce carbon
dioxide emissions by around 71 tonnes per month compared with conventional
diesel-based transportation, representing an estimated reduction of
approximately 26%. The estimate is
based on a modelled monthly green dispatch volume of 8,000 to 9,000 tonnes and
a cumulative truck travel distance of approximately 240,000 km. The actual environmental
benefits will depend on operating conditions and the deployment of the
fleet. “Responsible manufacturing must
extend beyond our plants to the entire value chain, including the way we
transport our products,” said Abhyuday Jindal, Managing Director of Jindal
Stainless. He described the deployment
of electric trucks as an important milestone in the company’s efforts to
decarbonise logistics and integrate lower-emission transportation solutions
into its operations.
The company will
continue to pursue practical and scalable initiatives to reduce its
environmental footprint while maintaining operational efficiency, as part of
its broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.