GREEN FOOTPRINTS OF ZINC

273.5 MW of Green Energy – 34.4 MW of power through waste heat recovery from roasters - Reduced Carbon footprint of 700,677 tCO2e per annum

Rationalisation and Innovation plays an important role in the development of any country. But as the business grows, responsibility towards the people and the surroundings also grows. It is important for the industries to adopt best environment friendly technologies for all its operations. Optimum utilisation of resources and managing the waste should be the key focus area of any industry.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group company in zinc-lead-silver business and the world's largest integrated zinc producer has been the key initiator in adopting clean green technology. The company's mining and smelting operations are based on environment friendly technologies that led the plant to conserve water and energy.

The operations are working on zero discharge principle and company is putting on efforts and research for gainful utilization of waste generated at its mines, smelters and power plants. Hindustan Zinc has persistent focus on minimal impact on environment and the company practices - reduce, recycle, reuse, and reclaim policy. The Effluent Treatment Plant with Reverse Osmosis plants installed at all smelting locations is resulting in reducing fresh water foot prints of the company and also to maintain zero discharge status.

The company installed its first Adiabatic Cooling Towers (ACTs) to replace the conventional cooling towers at the cost of about 40 crores. ACTs reduce water wastage in the form of evaporation losses by almost 80% by operating in a closed circuit. This has reduced the fresh water consumption at intake.

Care for the environment is driven by the three factors – technology, people and adherence. The company has successfully completed commissioning of 273.5 MW of wind farms in two phases, located in five states of India - Gujarat (88.8 MW), Karnataka (49.40 MW), Rajasthan (88.8 MW), Maharashtra (25.5 MW) and Tamil Nadu (21 MW). The company's entire 273.5 MW capacities of wind power generation have been registered under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) program by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They produced and sold 511.4 million units of wind power to the states' grids, an increase of 52.3% as compared to FY 2012.

The concern and the participation for the conservation of the environment cannot be forced; it has to be taken up as a responsibility. The company has been successful in reducing annual average emissions of 497,209 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents, by producing 536,882 MWh per year (average) equivalent amount of clean energy.

Other than wind projects, company's 9.4 MW waste heat recovery Steam Turbine Generation (STG) and 21 TPH Low Calorific Value Gas (LCV) boilers for steam generation projects are also registered under CDM. The total registered project has helped Hindustan Zinc to reduce carbon footprint by 583,685 tCO2e per annum. The company also reduced carbon footprint by 116,992 tCO2e from initiatives  other than the registered CDM projects.

Care for the environment can be done in two ways: enhancing the green belt and protecting the environment. The company's R&D efforts have materialised to utilise slag, a waste from zinc process in cement manufacturing. The fly ash which is a waste material from thermal power plant is utilised fully by cement industries. Over 1.3 million green plantation cover the company's premises. Hindustan Zinc is producing 34.4 MW of power through waste heat recovered from roasters. The company is also in the process to construct 20 million liters per day (MLD) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Udaipur. This Sewage Treatment Plant is a significant step towards conservation of water and care for environment by cleaning the Ahar River thereby improving overall health & hygiene of Udaipur city.

The company innovated the 'Cansolv Technology' in the Lead Plant at Chanderiya unit that controls SO2 emissions and converts it into Sulphuric Acid. Hindustan Zinc has also installed Tail Gas Treatment (TGT) plants at its smelters that reduce SO 2 emissions below the national standards. The technology adopted does not produce waste and effluent.

Hindustan Zinc has a state-of-the-art `Central Research & Development Laboratory (CRDL)' which was established by the company in 1976 with an objective to enhance metal recoveries, to recover values from the waste and optimise waste management.

Hindustan Zinc also adheres to the highest safety standards that also have been integrated in the people management process. It enables the company to detect and eliminate any safety risk, occupational risk or health hazards. The company through PPE compliance, structured training, safety workshops and internal & external audits is committed to have zero workplace injury. The company is working towards elimination of occupational illness through providing a workplace that is free from the occupational health risk and hygiene hazard. They (OH experts & Company doctors) pro-actively work with employees and the contractors for healthier lifestyle that enables to increase the productivity of the company and reduces absenteeism.

All the mines and the smelters are having occupational health centres where experts are present for regular health examination of the employees at the workplace. These centres also have the facilities of specific examination like blood lead level test, audiometric test, spirometry test, apart from routine tests like ECG, X-ray facilities etc.

The employees also play the important role of maintaining highest standards of corporate governance. All the employees are adhered to all the Environment, Occupational Health and Safety (EOHS) policies, contributing in protecting and conserving the environment to bring ecological balance as a part of sustainable development.

"Hindustan Zinc gave me a life of Dignity", Bherulal Bheel

"I was a small farmer from Kathia Kheda village of Rajsamand District of Rajasthan, who had never seen the school. My whole family needed to get engaged in daily labour, working 14-16 hours per day, to ensure two-time meals since my childhood", says Bherulal Bheel. "But I have been always very ambitious and desirous to become a Forward Farmer", Bherulal added.

The journey of Bherulal’s success began when his family bought the land from the money they saved working as peasant and he and his brother decided to work together on their farm.

Then in April 2011, Bherulal became one of the beneficiaries of “Improved Agriculture-Horticulture and Water Conservation Project” run by Hindustan Zinc in collaboration with BAIF as part of their community service initiatives. Under this project, Bherulal along with other farmers was trained on different aspects of modern agriculture technology and systematic farming through demonstration and exposures. His exposure to different forms of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, technical and marketing  was helpful in his turn-around.

At the time of intervention by Vedanta's group company Hindustan Zinc, the situation of Bherulal Bheel was quite critical. His primitive and age old methods of cultivation and harvesting for not yielding good crop. Hindustan Zinc encouraged him for modern techniques and for practicing various  areas like improved agriculture techniques, commercial cultivation, organic farming, use of micro nutrients, remedial measures of local disease among crops.

The project of Hindustan Zinc was designed to reduce the risk, maximize the land usage and to prevent the dependency on rainfed cultivation. The project had focus towards short and long term farming, low margins to high return and finally making agriculture a steady source of livelihood.

Hindustan Zinc exposed Bherulal along with other fellow farmers to KVK Chittorgarh, Mount Abu and Agriculture University, Bikaner, to learn and experience best agriculture practices in horticulture, floriculture and vegetable cultivation etc. After the successful result shown by vegetable cultivation, Hindustan Zinc also helped in construction of a ploy house to grow vegetables when it is usually off season.

Gradually Bherulal Bheel became an example for other farmers of his community to follow. The then Hon’ble Minister of Road Transport and Highways, GOI - Dr. C.P Joshi recognized his contribution during District Level Agriculture Mela.

Bherulal Bheel now optimally utilizes the available water sources through Drip Irrigation System received under the Drip Irrigation Scheme of Agriculture Department of Rajasthan. Due to this project Bherulal  who earned  Rs. 80,000 per year now is aiming to earn Rs. 2.5 lacs within a year.

"Hindustan Zinc gave me a life of Dignity", Bherulal Bheel proudly mentions.

BUSINESS LEADERS MEET AT 10 DOWNING STREET, UK

Anil Agarwal - Chairman, Vedanta Group

Wednesday, 18th September 2013

It was very interesting to attend a reception on Wednesday, 18th September 2013, evening for less than 100 selected Business Leaders at 10 Downing Street hosted by the UK Prime Minister and George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was an august gathering. Andrew Feldman (Chairman of the Conservative Party & Chairman of the Party Board) spoke first and said how important business people are in the UK for development. Then the Chancellor spoke and looked for suggestions to reduce the debt of the country, and again stressed UK development can only happen with business development and they are all ready to extend and help and take any suggestions in this regard. 

Finally the Prime Minister addressed all & clearly stated the importance of developing infrastructure of the country, manufacturing, natural resources etc… He mentioned to use him for any part of the world where his presence can help to develop UK company businesses. 

I was surprised at how vocal he was regarding how NGOs and the media some times are against development, and we have to fight because unless we develop our shale gas, oil & gas, freight corridors and new highways, but he was fully determined on taking development forward. He also said the only way the UK is coming up is as the economy and mostly everything is privatized in the country and he was very thankful to all the business leaders & CEOs of the corporations in participating in this. In India we have a similar situation where we have may be 250 state and central government companies. A lot of them must be listed and have a very good structure, but these companies are not progressing at all. 

In India we can divest 51% of these companies in the market and with the caveat that no one can own more than 10% of these companies. The most important factor is the employees; they can be given share in the companies. This will allow them to make much more money than they currently make and their interests can be aligned. The most talented, professional management will be identified and fully incentivised so they can create world class capacity and quality with the possibility to make the company to 10 times bigger, including creating huge valuation. With this capacity companies may employ a further 50 million people. 

For example ONGC can be another EXXON and SAIL and be like VALE.

When companies like L&T, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank can run world class organizations without being owner driven, I am sure these companies will also follow the example made by them and create huge value. This money can be used by the government to create infrastructure. 

Ultimately the government should divest further and hold 26%.The Supreme Court has asked the government to auction Kolar Gold fields and the Bharat Gold mine. This should be done in 90 days’ time on a revenue sharing basis. With today’s new exploration techniques we will find a lot of gold and will be partially self-sufficient and it may interest a lot of foreign companies.

Aluminium is a natural metal to be produced in India. At the moment we’re producing only 2 million tonnes however we have the potential to produce 15-20 million tonnes as it will also replace wood. This will create 50 million jobs as a full production chain of bauxite, alumina, aluminium smelting coal mine, power plant, engineering construction, capital goods, and manufacturing for downstream. This will change the face of India as this is the most environmental friendly material.

This year I believe we have imported $19 billion of coal. The government should auction the coal block. Also Coal India is sitting with a lot of coal block; they should sell 51% of the various coal blocks to produce coal in India.

I thought I would share the above with you.

Anil Agarwal 

Chairman – Vedanta Group

Date: September 26, 2013

RURAL WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR OF INDIA

Rural women out to make mark in Indian market with their art and craft through Vedanta self-help-groups

When Shahnaz Hussain lost her husband 15 years ago, her life had come to a standstill. The thought of completing education of her 2 children and sustaining respectable livelihood almost dragged her into depression. This simple house-hold woman of village Bichhdi in Rajasthan had no financial support and the future looked uncertain. Speaking to fellow women of her village, for her sustainable livelihood, she came in touch with a Self-Help-Group 'Jai Hind' a women empowerment project by Vedanta Group in rural India. Shahnaz joined the group and was provided stitching and tailoring training by Vedanta Group Company in Rajasthan, Hindustan Zinc. Her determination to get her children educated and have a sustainable livelihood made her an active member of the group.

Women in rural and tribal India live a life that requires social and economic upliftment. As the women are core of family system in India, it is important for the rural society, like in urban society, that she should not only be educated but also socially and economically empowered. With this thought Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Group started Self-Help-Groups in rural India in 2006. Each Self-Help-Group needed to have about 10-15 women who would be provided relevant training according to the needs and interest and would be linked with market for selling the products and also with banks for financing the raw material.

But the large challenge was to convince them to spare time and join the groups. The rural system has its own challenges and the biggest has been the social system. The support of family members for the women becomes the vital point. The Vedanta group representatives had to convince not just the women in question but also the family members and make them understand as how her empowerment will bring prosperity to the family as well.

It was never easy to bring rural women together as they had clash of interest or rural beliefs and also difference of temperament. But once they came together, they started working like a strong team where they extended helping hand to each other and ensured their SHG comes out with best of products.

Most of these rural women were illiterate. Vedanta arranged their adult-education classes in the villages to make them capable of maintaining itinerary of their own products. Initially, Vedanta's team helped them in linkages but a situation has come when these women have become independent and they handle their ledger book and accounts with banks themselves. Shahnaz is one of the 28,500 rural and tribal women who have been able to support their families by joining Vedanta's SHGs.

A tribal woman of Lanjigarh, Kada Majhi from village Kinari who has been trained by Vedanta in stitching and tailoring sends her children to DAV Vedanta International School now. Vedanta also provided her a sewing machine and now she is able to earn about Rs.2000/- pm. In Lanjigarh area itself, 260 tribal women have been trained in various skills.

Tamil Nadu is also not behind. Lalitha from the state says, 'I and my mother and sister are members of Jasmine self-help-group and had interest in saree decoration skills, like embroidery etc. and Vedanta besides providing training also linked us with the local textile shops. Now, we are able to earn about Rs. 4000/- to 5000/- pm. About 750 such women are working in various Self-Help-Groups formed by Vedanta group company MALCO in Tamil Nadu.

In Tuticorin where Vedanta has copper plant, Juliet Suganthi showed interest in painting work. She joined 'Nachithiram SHG' and went for training in fashion jewellery. She now makes chains, necklace, rings and other items to sell in the market.

Similarly, Shanti Kanwar of Chattisgarh is a member of 'Sarvmangla SHG' formed by the group company BALCO. Shanti has been linked with rice milling and flour making unit. Girja Saarthi, a member of 'Mahamaya SHG' is engaged in paper plate making unit. Girja says, 'we started getting orders for our product from the day we started operating the unit. BALCO, besides forming our group also gave us financial support and helped us getting the orders. Now, we are directly linked with market.' Like Girja and Shanti, about 325 women are working in various SHGs and earning about Rs. 5000/- pm.

Not just in India, in the States of Rajasthan, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Orissa, Vedanta has organised Self-Help-Groups even in Zambia where the group has Konkola Copper Mines.

A number of NGOs across India and banks like HDFC, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur and State Bank of India have come forward for providing financial assistance to the members of Self-Help-Groups.

Vedanta has so far formed more than 2100 such Self-Help-Groups and the company is further scaling up to the project to bring in more rural and tribal women so that they can be socio-economically empowered. Today, these women are business women of rural India and are out to make mark in Indian market with their art & craft and their skills in handicraft, embroidery, terracotta, tailoring, saree decoration, jewelry making, mushroom cultivation, poultry, goat husbandry, puffed rice processing, leaf plate-making, fish-farming, phenyl making, incense sticks/agarbati making, beauty parlor, typing institute, gold covering, oil sales, birds rearing, to name a few.