In a first, Hindustan Zinc deploys India’s first-ever Battery-Operated Vehicle into underground mining operation
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 in converting all diesel-run 900 odd mining vehicles to battery-operated ones Udaipur (Rajasthan) [India], February 2: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Indian mining sector, Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group company, […]
- 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 in converting all diesel-run 900 odd mining vehicles to battery-operated ones
Udaipur (Rajasthan) [India], February 2: 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 is 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 of 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.”
