Hindustan Zinc has taken a major step toward decarbonising mining operations.
The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Advantek Associates LLP and Aero Eagle Automobiles Private Limited to evaluate the use of green hydrogen and other clean energy solutions across its operations.
The Vedanta Group company is set to become the first player in India’s mining sector to explore hydrogen fuel applications in underground mining environments, a move that could redefine how heavy industrial operations transition to low-carbon energy sources.
The partnership will focus on assessing hydrogen-based technologies across a wide range of mining applications, including underground operations, heavy earth-moving machinery, surface vehicles, generators and other operational assets.
The collaboration will also examine the feasibility of green hydrogen generation, storage and dispensing infrastructure, alongside hydrogen-powered equipment and fuel technologies.
As mining remains one of the world’s most difficult sectors to decarbonise, Hindustan Zinc is positioning itself at the forefront of clean energy innovation. The initiative forms part of the company’s broader strategy to build future-ready, technology-led mining operations and support its commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
Commenting on the development, Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc Limited, said: “At Hindustan Zinc, we are focused on pioneering solutions that can redefine the future of sustainable mining. Hydrogen has the potential to support cleaner mobility, reduce emissions from heavy-duty equipment and create new pathways for decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial operations.
"This collaboration is a forward-looking step in evaluating hydrogen-based technologies, including their potential application in underground mining, as we continue to build a future-ready metals business aligned with global sustainability benchmarks.”
Under the agreement, the partners will undertake detailed technical, operational, safety, environmental and financial feasibility studies to evaluate the viability of hydrogen-powered solutions. The assessment will cover both Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) and fuel cell technologies for mining and industrial applications.
A key focus area will be the potential deployment of hydrogen fuel solutions in underground mining, placing Hindustan Zinc among the earliest companies in India’s mining industry to explore such applications at scale.
The project will follow a phased implementation approach. Subject to the outcomes of the feasibility studies, the collaboration could expand to support wider deployment of hydrogen-powered technologies across mining fleets, underground and surface vehicles, heavy machinery, generators and other critical operational infrastructure.
The initiative aligns with Hindustan Zinc’s broader ESG strategy, which prioritises decarbonisation, energy transition and responsible natural resource management.
The company continues to advance its sustainability agenda through Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated goals and its membership of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).
Hindustan Zinc has already increased renewable energy to nearly 18% of its power mix while accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies and operational efficiencies across its business.
