Ensuring Responsible
Utilisation of
Natural Resources
At Hindustan Zinc, we are aware of the depletable nature of the resources we deploy and are committed to using them prudently, thereby reducing our environmental footprint. We strive to continuously raise our benchmark in sustainability performance and follow global standards.
SDGs ASSOCIATED
MATERIAL ISSUES ADDRESSED
HIGH-PRIORITY AREA
MEDIUM-PRIORITY AREAS
WATER STEWARDSHIP
We are demonstrating our commitment for water stewardship by using water efficiently, maintaining water quality and engaging with communities to collaboratively manage a shared water resource throughout the life cycle
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL 2025
Become a 5 times water-positive company and achieve 25% reduction in freshwater consumption.
We will contribute to positive water impact in the vicinity of our operations through various efforts to enable long-term, sustainable water security for our business and others who depend on water availability. Our focus areas include:
Our Performance
Water Recycling
Specific Water Consumption
A Water-positive Enterprise
We operate in a water-scarce area of India and the non-availability of water is a key risk for our business. To mitigate this risk, we are reducing our dependence on freshwater by exploring alternative resources, increasing the recycle and reuse of water and replenishing as much water as we can. We are working towards long-term conservation and the availability of water to both nearby communities and across our operations.
During FY 2019-20, our water accounting assessment was carried out by DNV GL, a globally renowned risk management and quality assurance company, and we were certified a 2.41x water-positive company. Initiatives such as rainwater harvesting, recharge to groundwater and the use of treated sewage water have enabled us to achieve this distinction. This reinforces our commitment to the journey of water stewardship.
Our Approach
We have adopted a multi-pronged approach to managing water resources.
Focus Areas
Minimising the
Use of Water
Initiatives
Enhancing the Use of Recycled Water
Developing Rainwater Harvesting Systems to Replenish Groundwater Sources
Focus Areas
Exploring
Alternatives
Initiatives
Monitoring and
Auditing
DRY TAILINGS DISPOSAL SYSTEM – ZAWAR
Objective
To reduce the water content (50-65%) present in the tailings slurry at the beneficiation plants in Zawar
Action Taken
Installation and commissioning of dry tailing plant to:
Positive Outcomes
It is now possible to extract excess water (recirculation for mill operation) from tailings by the introduction of this filtration plant to transform solid fractions into cake containing only 16% moisture.
ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE MANAGEMENT
We endeavour to use energy efficiently across all our sites and diversify our energy portfolio to cleaner sources where possible.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL 2025
Achieve 0.5 mn tCO2e GHG emission savings in our operations from the base year 2017
We will continue our efforts to achieve an absolute reduction in GHG emissions across our operations. Our focus areas include:
Our Performance
Optimising Energy Consumption
Climate Change
We believe renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly important and are ramping up our green energy portfolio. We have a total wind capacity of 273.5 MW and total solar capacity of 39.6 MW. The green energy so generated has led to the reduction of CO2 emission by 5,80,995 MT annually. The expansion of WHRB capacity is planned to add 5.58 MW Steam Turbine Generator (STG) project at Dariba Lead Smelter and 8.6 MW in the fumer plant at Chanderiya.
USE OF PNG BURNERS BY REPLACING THE HSD BURNERS AT PANTNAGAR
Objective
Reduction in GHG emission using cleaner fuel
Action Taken
Pantnagar Metal Plant has successfully installed and is running the highly efficient Piped Natural Gas (PNG) burners by replacing the High Speed Diesel (HSD) burners, thereby reducing GHG emissions as well as enhancing net annual profit
Positive Outcomes
Adopting TCFD Recommendations
In 2015, Financial Stability Board created the Task force on Climate related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) and in 2017, TCFD published its recommendations around four pillars of governance, strategy, risk management and climate-related metrics and targets.
We are conscious of the climate change and its impacts on our activities and have initiated the adoption of TCFD framework for climate change risk and opportunity management. We are in the process of conducting a detailed gap analysis against the four core elements of the TCFD framework. To kick-start and support the implementation, we organised an interactive session for our senior management to understand the requirement of the TCFD through renowned consultant and also conducted an awareness webinar for all our employees on climate change, TCFD guidelines and how they can contribute to the same.
We have established a three-tier structure for governing the risks and opportunities related to climate change
We have defined the transition to a circular economy as one of our strategic priorities, which will enable us in realising our vision and mission.
Environment and climate change risks and their mitigation actions are embedded in our critical business activities, functions and processes. We are also in the process of initiating the detailed climate change related risk and opportunity assessment.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Hindustan Zinc believes in zero waste and has aligned waste management practices to the '4R Policy’ of Reduce, Recycle, Reuse and Reclaim in our operations.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL 2025
Achieve three times increase in gainful utilisation of smelting process waste.
Through efficient and responsible waste management, we will continue to make our efforts towards reducing waste to landfill. Our focus areas include:
Focus Areas
Reduce Waste
Generation
Initiatives Adopted
Focus Areas
Reuse
Waste
Initiatives Adopted
Reclaim
Resources
Recycle
MANAGING EMISSIONS
Our approach to managing emissions is focused on investing in environmental abatement technologies such as air emission control equipment, maintaining process integrity and active engagement with key stakeholders.
We have deployed equipment across our value chain that use cleaner fuel. Our technologically advanced state-of-the-art underground traffic management systems are driving faster turnaround time of mining equipment, lowering engine hours and improving fuel efficiencies.
Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) has been installed at all source emissions and data is being sent to a central server and to servers of statutory bodies like the State and Central Pollution Control Boards. Immediate corrective and preventive actions are taken in case of any deviation.
BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
Protecting and enhancing biodiversity is integral to our commitment towards sustainable development. We have developed a unique and exclusive biodiversity management plan for all our operations. We are a member of the IUCN Leader for Nature (LfN) India initiative and are committed to enhancing and restoring biodiversity. We are working closely with the LfN team to organise different awareness-raising training programmes for our employees.
SUSTAINABILITY GOAL 2025
Protect and enhance biodiversity throughout the life cycle.
Our focus areas include: