Monitoring Greatness: Priyanka Mahakhud’s Journey at Vedanta

Priyanka Mahakhud, who grew up in Lanjigarh, never imagined that she would one day be responsible for managing the Distributed Control System at one of the world’s largest alumina refineries operated by Vedanta Limited.

The refinery in Lanjigarh, with a production capacity of 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), is the world’s second-largest alumina refinery. As a Control Room Operator, Mahakhud oversees critical process parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow, and levels through real-time digital monitoring systems. Her role is vital to maintaining smooth plant operations and requires precision, analytical thinking, and quick decision-making. She also works closely with field operators and process controllers during plant start-ups, shutdowns, and emergency situations.

Mahakhud is the first girl in her family to study at DAV Vedanta International School, the only English-medium school in the region. She later moved to Bhubaneswar to pursue a B.Sc (Hons) in Zoology from Maharishi College of Natural Law.

Alongside her demanding technical role at Vedanta’s refinery, she is currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in Biotechnology through distance learning, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.