Hindustan Zinc launches major water recycling and stewardship initiatives

Ahead of World Water Day, Hindustan Zinc vowed to recycle 18 billion litres of water in FY24, emphasising environmental sustainability.

The largest and second-largest integrated zinc producer in India, Hindustan Zinc Limited (NSE: HINDZINC), announced ahead of World Water Day that it will recycle over 18 billion litres of water in FY24, which is about equal to the yearly water consumption of almost 1 lakh Rajasthani homes. Hindustan Zinc, a 2.41-times water positive and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) company, is unwavering in its commitment to sustainable water management despite operating in Rajasthan, one of India’s most water-stressed regions. By ensuring that process water and effluent are cleaned, recycled, and reused, the company has maintained a zero liquid discharge policy, which effectively reduces its demand on freshwater while doing away with liquid waste.

Hindustan Zinc, the most environmentally conscious mining and metals corporation in the world, uses both community-led water stewardship programs and operational water conservation. Hindustan Zinc announced significant water management projects underway at the operational and community levels in several Rajasthani districts ahead of World Water Day. The 4,000 kilolitres per day (KLD) Zero Liquid Discharge unit will be inaugurated by the firm next week at Rampura Agucha, which is home to the biggest underground zinc mining activities in the world. Throughout its operations in Rajasthan, the company has upheld a zero liquid discharge policy, and this new facility, along with the zero liquid discharge plants already in place at Zinc Smelter Debari, Dariba Smelting Complex, Chanderiya Lead Zinc Smelter, and Zawar Group of Mines, further advances the company’s goal.

Speaking on the occasion of World Water Day, Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “At Hindustan Zinc, we recognise that water is the foundation of a sustainable future. Our water stewardship approach extends beyond operational efficiency to ensuring long-term water security for both communities and industries. As a 2.41 times water-positive company, we are actively replenishing and fortifying water resources. By embedding sustainable water management at the core of our strategy, we continue to demonstrate that industrial growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

In addition to its operating obligations, Hindustan Zinc is spearheading extensive community water projects to boost groundwater recharge and expand access to water in rural areas. Hindustan Zinc has renovated ponds at Agucha, Bhilwara district, encompassing Agucha panchayat. Nearly 25,000 people will benefit from this initiative, which will also improve water supply and revive the wildlife surrounding settlements. The business has deepened four ponds in four villages in the Rajsamand district, which would assist over 10,000 people by increasing the ponds’ combined capacity by 55,000 m3, or 55 million litres. In the upcoming fiscal year, plans are underway to expand this project to two other ponds. In Chanderiya, Hindustan Zinc launched a lift irrigation scheme benefiting over 100 farmers, supporting cash crop cultivation across 50 acres, ensuring efficient water usage for sustainable agriculture.

Hindustan Zinc, a leader in sustainable water management, built the first sewage treatment plant (STP) in Udaipur using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This ground-breaking project in Rajasthan treats 60 million litres of wastewater every day. By providing purified water to Hindustan Zinc’s operations through a cutting-edge pipeline network, this project is essential to maintaining the lakes of Zinc City Udaipur free of contaminated water. This drastically lowers the amount of freshwater used.

In order to increase its influence on the community, Hindustan Zinc has started a massive four-block artificial groundwater recharge project in the Bhilwara district. The project has produced a groundwater recharge capacity of 87 lakh cubic meters (or 8700 million litres) by desilting ponds, fortifying embankments and building 358 recharge holes across 84 ponds. This is a crucial intervention in Rajasthan’s parched terrain. Water ROs (reverse osmosis plants) and water ATMs have guaranteed the delivery of about 4 million litres of safe water to communities in Rajasthan as part of Hindustan Zinc’s community development project.

At Rajsamand, the company has also launched a first-of-its-kind Jal Sakhi initiative that fulfils the triple goal of women empowerment, entrepreneurship and availability of clean water, wherein this women-led enterprise has provided clean water to nearly 50,000 people by operating the water ATMs for the community. Furthermore, in FY24, Hindustan Zinc used tankers to provide more than 15 million litres of water to more than 20 water-scarce villages around Rajasthan. Community residents claim that the prevalence of water-borne illnesses, including cholera, typhoid, dysentery, etc., has significantly decreased since safe drinking water became available.

The Vedanta Group company Hindustan Zinc Limited is the third-largest producer of silver and the second-largest integrated zinc producer in the world. The company has a 75 percent market share in India’s primary zinc sector and sells to over 40 nations. The S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024 has named Hindustan Zinc the most sustainable firm in the metals and mining sector for the second year in a row. Additionally, the business introduced EcoZen Asia, the first low-carbon “green” zinc made with renewable energy that has a carbon footprint that is almost 75 percent lower than the average for the world. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times water-positive firm. Hindustan Zinc is also a certified 2.41 times water-positive company. As a world leader in the metals and mining industry, Hindustan Zinc is pivotal in providing critical metals essential for the global energy transition for a sustainable future.

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