Hindustan Zinc, India’s only and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has reduced its freshwater use by 28 per cent over the past decade, recycling 71 billion litres of treated sewage water between FY2016 and FY2025. This volume could meet Udaipur’s water needs for more than 500 days. Operating in water-stressed Rajasthan, the company has achieved 3.32 times water positivity by treating and reusing all process water in operations. 

In partnership with the Government of Rajasthan, Hindustan Zinc pioneered Udaipur’s first Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in 2014 under a PPP model. Expanded to 60 MLD, the facility prevents untreated sewage from polluting Udaipur’s lakes, instead delivering high-quality treated water to the company’s operations through a dedicated pipeline. 

  

“Water is a shared legacy and at Hindustan Zinc, we’ve embraced water stewardship that turns challenges into opportunities,” said Arun Misra, CEO – Hindustan Zinc Limited. “As a 3.32× water-positive company with zero effluent discharge across sites, we’re implementing cutting-edge technology to safeguard freshwater for communities while setting new benchmarks in sustainable manufacturing. We remain committed to reducing freshwater consumption by 50% by 2030 and achieving 100% reuse of low-quality water in smelting.” 

The company has also commissioned effluent treatment plants across all sites, a 4,000 KLD water treatment plant at Rampura Agucha mine, and dry tailing and paste-fill facilities at Rajpura Dariba Complex to boost water savings. 

Beyond operations, Hindustan Zinc runs community water initiatives such as the ‘Jal Sakhi’ programme, employing rural women across 13 RO hubs, delivering safe drinking water to over 2.19 lakh people in 36 villages, and creating groundwater recharge capacity of more than 1 lakh m³. 

Hindustan Zinc recently became the first Indian company to join the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM). For the second year running, it was ranked the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024.