Hindustan Zinc, a company in the Vedanta group, has incorporated Normet Agitator SmartDrive EV into its underground mining operations in a first-of-its-kind move in the Indian mining industry. The company will soon add Normet’s Explosive Charger (CHARMEC MC 605 V SD) and Concrete Sprayer to its fleet of BEVs (SPRAYMEC MF 050 VC SD). With a steady transition to electric vehicles for its underground operations, Hindustan Zinc is the first business among its contemporaries to join the EV revolution.
The company has set a target of converting all diesel-run 900-odd mining vehicles into battery-operated ones over the next five years and has earmarked an investment of over USD 1 billion for the same.
Battery-powered utility vehicles and service equipment have been introduced into underground mining by Hindustan Zinc and the Finnish technology firm Normet Group Oy in an effort to decarbonize and enhance environmental sustainability in the mining sector. Each Normet SmartDrive EV is built using a modular Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) architecture that is intended to optimize performance and energy use in applications involving tunneling in underground mining.
The SmartDrive EVs enable higher productivity, lower operating costs, and, most importantly, zero emissions. The BEVs have been inducted at the company’s Sindesar Khurd (SK) Mine which is a world-class silver-rich mine with state-of-the-art infrastructure facilities and best-in-class mechanization.
Commenting on the induction of the EVs, Mr Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said, “Our aim at Hindustan Zinc is to revolutionize underground mining, boost productivity, raise underground safety standards, and provide sustainable operations solutions. Thanks to our unwavering commitment to environmentally sustainable business and net zero emissions, we’ve always focused on innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. I believe the introduction of battery-electric vehicles in Hindustan Zinc’s underground mining operations will revolutionize the sector and mark a great step forward for India in terms of responsible mining.”
Hindustan Zinc is a leader in the field, constantly implementing innovative and environmentally friendly technologies in its pursuit of sustainable mining. Another important step toward the company’s goals of sustainable and intelligent operations is the introduction of EVs. Therefore, Hindustan Zinc is on the right track to achieve its Sustainable Development Goal (SGD), which is to achieve a 0.5 million tCO2e reduction by 2025, thanks to its unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmentally friendly solutions. Ends
