Green revolution in mining: Hindustan Zinc takes major leap towards renewable energy

On Global Energy Independence Day, Hindustan Zinc, India’s premier and the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer, announced a significant stride towards sustainability with the launch of the first phase of renewable energy integration from Serentica Renewables. This initiative aligns with Hindustan Zinc’s strategic shift to decarbonize its operations across its business units in Rajasthan, reinforcing its commitment as outlined in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023, where it stood out as the world’s most sustainable metals & mining company.

The collaboration between Hindustan Zinc and Serentica Renewables marks the commencement of utilizing 180 MW of solar energy from Serentica’s Bikaner power park, which is part of a broader strategy to harness 450 MW of round-the-clock renewable energy. This energy shift not only supports Hindustan Zinc’s operational reliability but also significantly contributes to its long-term sustainability goals by aiming to reduce approximately 0.45 million tons of CO2 emissions annually.

The Bikaner solar park spans over 1,200 acres and plays a crucial role in Serentica’s comprehensive strategy to provide consistent and reliable green power. This initiative is expected to cut around 2.7 million tons of CO2 emissions each year, bolstering India’s broader sustainability agenda. This phase of renewable integration demonstrates Hindustan Zinc’s proactive approach in transitioning from conventional fuel sources, where it previously depended, towards a greener alternative.

Mr. Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, highlighted the company’s vision for the future, stating, “Sustainability is the guiding principle shaping every business decision. We remain proactive in investing in our climate action initiatives, progressing on our journey to net zero by 2050 or sooner. This project not only reduces our dependency on conventional fuels and minimizes our total environmental footprint but also aids our transformation towards decarbonizing our operations, paving the way for a fully sustainable future.”

Similarly, Akshay Hiranandani, CEO of Serentica Renewables, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership’s progress, “The successful and ahead-of-schedule commissioning of Phase 1 (solar) in Bikaner exemplifies Serentica’s commitment to accelerating India’s clean energy transformation. This project represents a significant leap forward in delivering large-scale renewable energy solutions for decarbonizing industries at scale.”

In 2022, Hindustan Zinc set an ambitious target for a 50% reduction in its carbon footprint by 2030, with a vision to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050. The company has already made significant progress by recording a 14% decrease in GHG emission intensity compared to the base year 2020. With initiatives like the deployment of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in its underground mines and transitioning to 180 LNG vehicles and EV trucks in logistics, Hindustan Zinc is not only focusing on reducing its Scope 1 and 2 emissions but also aiming for a 25% reduction in Scope-3 emissions by 2030.

This partnership is a testament to Hindustan Zinc’s and Serentica Renewable’s shared commitment to environmental stewardship and represents a significant milestone in the mining industry’s journey towards sustainability and responsible corporate conduct.