### Hindustan Zinc Inaugurates 40 MLD Water Treatment Plant at Rampura Agucha Mines

Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s largest and the world’s second-largest integrated zinc producer, has inaugurated a 40 million liters per day (MLD) water treatment plant at its Rampura Agucha Mines. The state-of-the-art facility was inaugurated by Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, marking a major step toward sustainable water management. The advanced plant enhances process efficiency, reduces tailing dam water storage, improves structural stability, and optimizes the froth flotation process for higher metal recovery.

This milestone underscores Hindustan Zinc’s commitment to responsible water management, increasing Rampura Agucha’s water positivity from 3.2 to 5.5 times. It has also resulted in a 40% reduction in freshwater usage, saving approximately 12.5 billion liters of water annually.

Speaking at the inauguration, Arun Misra stated, “This water treatment plant is the world’s first of its kind for an underground mine, established by Hindustan Zinc. Water conservation is a top priority for Vedanta Hindustan Zinc, especially in Rajasthan’s southern region. We are committed to minimizing freshwater usage and maximizing water reuse and recirculation. While we have implemented zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in almost all plants, this is the first of its scale in an underground mine. I take immense pride in our project and mining teams at Agucha for ensuring the seamless commissioning of this plant. The treated water quality is as good as, if not better than, potable water.”

The launch of this advanced water treatment plant aligns with Hindustan Zinc’s vision for sustainable mining and operational excellence. By significantly reducing reliance on freshwater and strengthening tailing dam stability, the company continues to set new benchmarks in environmental conservation.

Expanding Community Water Initiatives

Beyond its operational commitments, Hindustan Zinc is spearheading large-scale community water initiatives to enhance groundwater recharge and improve rural water access. In Bhilwara’s Agucha region, the company has undertaken pond restoration projects to revive local biodiversity, increase water availability, and positively impact nearly 25,000 residents.

Furthering its community outreach, Hindustan Zinc has launched an extensive artificial groundwater recharge project across four blocks in Bhilwara district. By desilting ponds, reinforcing embankments, and constructing 358 recharge shafts across 84 water bodies, the initiative has created a recharge capacity of 87 million cubic meters (8.7 billion liters), a significant achievement in Rajasthan’s arid landscape.

In FY 2023-24, Hindustan Zinc recycled over 1.8 trillion liters of water—equivalent to the annual water consumption of nearly 100,000 households in Rajasthan. Operating in one of India’s most water-stressed regions, the company remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainable water management, reinforcing its position as a 2.41x water-positive and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) enterprise. By maintaining a ZLD approach, Hindustan Zinc ensures that process water and waste are treated, recycled, and reused, significantly reducing dependence on freshwater resources.