Mumbai, June 29 -- Hindustan Zinc has signed a memorandum of understanding with Advantek Associates and Aero Eagle Automobiles to explore green hydrogen and other clean energy solutions across its mining operations, the company said in a regulatory filing to stock exchanges. The collaboration will commence with feasibility studies that will examine technical, operational, safety, environmental and financial aspects of possible deployments.
The partnership will assess hydrogen-based technologies for use in underground mining, heavy earth-moving machinery, surface vehicles and power generators, with an initial focus on technical viability and operational integration. The scope of work will include evaluation of green hydrogen generation, storage and dispensing infrastructure and appraisal of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine and fuel cell technologies for mining and industrial settings. The studies are intended to identify practical pathways for trialling equipment and supporting refuelling logistics.
The filing indicated that, if the underground mining application proceeds, the company would be the only operator attempting to deploy hydrogen fuel technology in that particular setting, acknowledging the unique challenges of ventilation, confined spaces and safe fuel handling. Depending on the feasibility outcomes, the participants said the collaboration could expand to a broader rollout across mining equipment and other operational assets.
Hindustan Zinc has set a target of becoming net zero by 2050 or earlier and described mining and heavy industry as hard-to-abate sectors due to reliance on high-capacity, energy-intensive equipment. The chief executive said the company is focused on pioneering solutions that can redefine sustainable mining and that hydrogen has the potential to support cleaner mobility, reduce emissions from heavy-duty equipment and open new decarbonisation pathways. The collaboration was presented as a forward-looking step in evaluating whether hydrogen technologies can be integrated at scale.
The company currently sources nearly 18 per cent of its power from renewable sources and supplies zinc to more than 40 countries, holding close to a 74 per cent share of India's primary zinc market. The filing noted market interest in the firm's energy transition strategy as it explores practical measures to reduce operational emissions.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.