31 December 2020
Dear Colleagues,
As I think about 2020, many negative words come up – chaos, confusion, loss, panic, uncertainty. And yet, when I look at Hindalco this year past, there are only positive words that come to mind – Resilience, Determination, Community, Togetherness.
Despite all the challenges thrown at us – and there were many tough ones – we not only survived, we succeeded in reaching a higher, better plane of functioning. There are many things that we can look back on with pride. Let me talk about a few.
- Each and every one of us, united by the Hindalco banner, stepped up – despite the personal trials and challenges caused by Covid – to keep the Company going. Hindalco is no ordinary Company – we are part of the nation’s critical infrastructure – and I would like to convey my heartfelt thanks for all your efforts. This year, we lost some of our colleagues and their family members to the disease. I am sorry for the loss. My thoughts and prayers are always with them.
- It’s a matter of strong pride that, even at the height of the lockdown, we continued to supply aluminium across India for critical uses such as pharma, masks, PPEs and ventilators.
- We kept the aluminium smelters and major refineries operating at near full-scale, work which took stupendous effort, meticulous planning and impeccable execution as our aluminium was shipped worldwide amidst the chaos.
- The Copper Business displayed great resilience in mobilizing over 3,500 people from 20 states to run the plant, implementing thorough monsoon preparedness measures and ensuring continuity of supplies to key customers.
- With courage and agility, the Fertiliser business set new milestones – commencing trade of phosphatic fertilisers for the first time and launching a new NPK product after 13 years.
- All of Hindalco moved very quickly into high gear. Our IT team enabled seamless connectivity overnight, even in our remotest locations. The Finance team arranged fund availability, anticipating requirements for various scenarios, Procurement team stocked us with raw materials and spares, Marketing team secured the supply of material to existing customers and the crucial onboarding of new ones, and the Logistics team found creative new ways to honour commitments for transport of material. The Unit teams worked hand-in-hand to ensure continuity of operations with all safety protocols. There are many more such inspiring stories from across Hindalco.
- We have become comfortable in the digital world – technologies like Remote Support, Augmented Reality, Drones, AI-powered COVID safety measures, AI-enabled Price Forecasting, and of course, virtual meetings, are now part of our lexicon.
- We kept our commitment to the communities we work in, supporting them through hospital equipment, food rations, masks, sanitisation measures, and more.
Despite the pandemic, Hindalco was able to deliver consistent performance in Q1 and an outstanding performance in Q2FY21. It is no coincidence that Hindalco has been declared the world’s most sustainable aluminium company in the 2020 edition of the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Now 2020 is behind us. What should we look forward to in 2021?
Uncertainty, and maybe even chaos, will always loom on the horizon. What will sustain us is the surety of our past experience and our resilience – we have learnt that by pulling together as a team, we can overcome the unexpected, and face the future as a stronger cohort.
For me that is the biggest positive takeaway from 2020 – that Hindalco will continue to demonstrate the same winning spirit, agility, creativity and teamwork that makes us an exemplar among our peers. That is indeed something wonderful to look forward to.
As the curtain falls on this unforgettable year, I wish you and your families a safe and happy 2021!
Regards,
Satish Pai