STRENGTHENING OUR WATER STEWARDSHIP
Goals 2025
Become 5x water-positive company and achieve 25% reduction in freshwater usage by 2025
Performance
- 6% reduction in freshwater consumption from FY2020
- 3.32 times water positive company
- 29% increase in the sewage treatment plant (STP) water consumption in operations
Our sustainability vision extends to the preservation of this precious resource. We continuously invest in innovative solutions to optimise water use, focusing on reducing our reliance on freshwater. Through advanced water recycling initiatives, we aim to minimise our environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency.
Embracing the guiding principles of ‘Zero Harm, Zero Waste, Zero Discharge,’ we ensure that water is used responsibly and sustainably for future generations.
Cornerstones of our water management strategy
KEY HIGHLIGHTS FOR FY2025
- Commissioned a 4,000 KLD water treatment plant at Rampura Agucha Mines
- Commissioned a dry tailing and paste-fill plant at Rajpura Dariba Complex (RDC), achieving 8,100 KLD average recycled water
- 3.32 times water positivity ratio
- RDC received the NITI Aayog Scope 1 “Water Positive Aspiring” company certification
COMMITTING TOWARDS RESPONSIBLE WATER STEWARDSHIP
Hindustan Zinc continuously invests in innovative solutions to optimise water use and reduce its reliance on freshwater. Our water stewardship commitments are guided by the key global frameworks to ensure responsible water use and support long-term sustainability for both our operations and surrounding communities. We align with the UN Global Compact Water Action Platform (CEO Water Mandate), adopting its strategic framework to drive responsible water management. Additionally, we follow the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Water Stewardship Framework, which includes:
- Transparent and efficient corporate water governance structure
- Effective water management at operations
- Collaboration for sustainable water use
Setting New Standards in Water Stewardship
FY2025 marks a significant achievement in our water stewardship journey, with our Rajpura Dariba Complex receiving the prestigious NITI Aayog’s Scope 1 Certification of Water Neutrality/Positivity Aspiring Company. This is in alignment with their novel standard, consisting of certification schemes on Scope 1, 2 and 3 water intensity for Indian companies. This approach involves both the company and its water-intensive supply chain in the water neutrality/positivity process.
MAINTAINING ZERO LIQUID DISCHARGE AND ENHANCING WATER RECOVERY
Zero Liquid Discharge Commitment
With a focus on water conservation, we proudly uphold the principle of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) across all our sites. Our operations have significantly enhanced their water recycling capacity through state-of-the-art technologies, including effluent treatment plants (ETPs), reverse osmosis (RO), multiple effect evaporators (MEE) & mechanical vapour recompression (MVR).
31,300 KLD
internal recycling system implemented by integration of ZLD, ETP, RO, MEE, and MVR technologies
Improved Backfilling Efficiency
To satisfy the increasing backfilling requirement from year-on-year growth in production, we commissioned a 1.8 Mtpa paste-fill plant at Rajpura Dariba Complex. This initiative has significantly reduced the water consumption by 62%, with an enhanced water recovery potential of around 3,000 KLD on a daily basis. While reducing the water percentage in the fill mixture from 40% to 20%, it also eliminated the need for additional infrastructure for tailing dilution in the hydro-fill plant.
Enhancing Water Recycling through Dry Tailing Plant
In our ongoing efforts to address the environmental impact of tailings waste, we successfully commissioned a second dry tailing plant (DTP) at the Rajpura Dariba Complex, building on the success of India’s first DTP at Zawar Mines. This advanced technology minimises the environmental footprint by converting slurry tailings into dry, stackable waste, while also recovering over 80% of water from the tailings, resulting in lower water withdrawal and circular water use in our operations.
Hindustan Zinc achieves 3.32x Water Positivity
Validated by DNV, Hindustan Zinc has set a new benchmark by achieving an impressive 3.32 times water positivity, up from 2.41 in 2020. This milestone reflects our sustainable water initiatives, including rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and enhanced recycling across operations. By reducing freshwater dependency and creating community water credits, we continue to lead in responsible water stewardship, ensuring long-term water security for both our operations and communities.
BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH WATER RISK MANAGEMENT
At Hindustan Zinc, we conduct comprehensive water risk assessments covering all our operational sites every year, forming the foundation for our Water Management Plans. These assessments include sensitivity analysis and stress testing to evaluate water-related risks, informing the development of a suitable water pricing structure.
Given that water risks differ by location, we employ a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach using tools like the WBCSD India Water Tool, WRI Aqueduct, and GEMI local water tools. These tools help us assess a range of variables, including water stress, seasonal variability, flood and drought risks, groundwater availability, and future water-related challenges, including regulatory changes. Using this data, we identify and evaluate water risks and develop tailored management strategies to address them. We remain committed to mitigating these risks through rigorous standards and processes, ensuring the sustainability of our operations and minimising impact on local communities.
Water recycled (%)
Water withdrawal (in mn m3 )
