1. Hindustan Zinc & Epiroc Rock Drills AB sign an MoU for Zero Emission and Sustainable Mining by the introduction of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in underground mining
2. Hindustan Zinc will become the first mining company in India to introduce electric vehicles in UG mines

Udaipur, 8th February 2021: A pioneer in adopting innovative solutions and smart technologies for responsible mining, Hindustan Zinc sets a new benchmark as the company leads the way for the introduction of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in underground mining.

Taking a step closer to achieving carbon neutrality, Hindustan Zinc signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Epiroc for ‘Zero Emission and Sustainable Mining by the introduction of Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in underground mining. This will help HZL to explore the possibility of introducing battery-operated vehicles in underground mines which will help reduce carbon emissions, enabling the mine operations to become more environmentally friendly.

Industrial activities around the globe are fast moving towards building sustainable partnerships that bring efficiency and expertise to the business. It’s imperative for any partnership to share the same values to be successful, and both Hindustan Zinc, as well as Epiroc India, share the values of safety, sustainability, innovation, and technology in running operations.

Commenting on the MoU, Mr. Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc said, “At Hindustan Zinc, we are committed to Smart, Safe, and Sustainable operations and we believe that as a leader it is incumbent on us to be catalysts for transformation towards adopting sustainability-driven business solutions. This partnership with Epiroc fortifies our commitment to green and responsible mining and takes us furthers in the right direction to achieve carbon neutrality, in line with our emission reduction Sustainability Development Goal for 2025.”

Mr. Jerry Andersson, Managing Director, Epiroc India added, “A safer and cleaner mining starts only if someone takes the first step. Epiroc has always been a leader in mining technologies. We showcase the BEV in underground mining with the broadest offerings and a mission to deliver the world’s greenest machines. Our memorandum with Hindustan Zinc is a step on our mutual journey for a safer and more sustainable mining operation to come.”

The future is electric, and technologies such as these will be at the forefront of smart operations. This partnership will in the future allow a fleet of highly efficient electric-powered equipment that on one end will reduce carbon emission by replacing diesel-fuelled equipment and on the other hand will increase productivity with its evolved design.

Sustainability across operations is part of the core business philosophy at Hindustan Zinc. As a COP26 business leader, the company has been consistently working towards achieving science-based targets (SBT) to curb carbon footprint. It is part of the prestigious CDP “A-List” for all its initiatives towards tackling climate change and is also ranked 1st in Asia Pacific & 7th Globally by The Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2020.