-
Hindustan Zinc is the first company among its peers to join the
EV revolution, steadily switching to electric
vehicles for its underground operations
- The company will invest USD 1 billion for converting all diesel-run 900 odd mining vehicles to battery operated ones
Udaipur, XX, XXXX, 2023: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Indian
mining sector, Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group
company, has introduced Normet Agitator SmartDrive
EV, into its underground mining
operations. The company will soon expand its BEV
fleet with Normet’s Explosive
Charger (CHARMEC MC 605 V SD) and Concrete Sprayer (SPRAYMEC MF 050 VC SD). Hindustan Zinc is the first company
among its peers to join the EV revolution, steadily switching to electric
vehicles for its underground operations. 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.
Hindustan Zinc, together with the Finnish technology
company Normet Group Oy, has inducted battery-powered
service equipment and utility vehicles into underground mining to help decarbonize and improve environmental
sustainability in the mining industry. Each of
the Normet SmartDrive EVs are based on a modular Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) architecture that
is designed to optimise energy consumption and
performance in underground mining, including tunnelling
applications. 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 mechanisation.
Commenting on the induction
of the EVs, Mr Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc,
said, “Our aim at Hindustan Zinc is to revolutionise 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
revolutionise the sector and mark a great step forward for
India in terms of responsible mining.”
Speaking on
the occasion, Mr Subhasis Mohanty, Managing Director, Normet India, said, “We
are pleased to partner with Hindustan Zinc to solidify our ESG commitment, by
bringing into reality the first of our fleet of Normet SmartDrive ® BEVs in HZL underground mines. Our
association has been valuable to drive common goals on sustainability and
decarbonisation in the Indian mining sector, driving transformation in the
underground space and building long-term value for all our stakeholders.”
Hindustan Zinc will gain considerable benefits from the adoption of Normet SmartDrive EVs, including significant HSD savings and
vehicle maintenance. These SmartDrive electric vehicles are powered by
90kWH lithium-ion batteries and come equipped with myriad advanced technologies
such as energy recuperation technology, hydraulic dual-circuit oil-immersed brakes to
provide additional braking power, etc. The vehicles also have the advantage of zero-emission in
the operating environments, considerable noise and vibration reduction
associated with equipment. In addition to that, BEVs comes with high-efficiency
driveline and consumes less kWh/ km compared to diesel ones.
Hindustan Zinc is a
pioneer in the sector, continually deploying
transformational and sustainable technologies in pursuit of sustainable mining. The
introduction of the EVs serves as yet another
decisive step for its sustainable and smart operations goals. Hindustan Zinc’s abiding commitment to
sustainability and environmental-friendly solutions, then, puts it on the path to achieve
its Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) of achieving a 0.5mn tCO2e reduction by
2025.
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