Hindustan Zinc’s Oldest Smelter Now Runs 24x7 With Women on Shifts

03 Oct 2025 CW Team

The initiative follows similar rollouts across Hindustan Zinc’s major operations, including Rampura Agucha Mine, Pantnagar Metal Plant, Chanderiya Smelting Complex, Kayad Mine, Zawar Mines, and Sindesar Khurd Mine in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. With these progressive measures, the company has achieved a gender diversity ratio of 26 per cent—among the highest in India’s metals, mining, and heavy engineering industries.

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc, said, “This is a proud moment for Hindustan Zinc and a significant step forward for India’s metals and mining sector. By integrating women in nightshift at our Zinc Smelter Debari, we’re not only breaking barriers but also setting new benchmarks for inclusion on the ground. True progress comes from empowering every individual to participate fully, lead fearlessly, and thrive equally.”

Equipped with advanced technology, robust safety measures, and inclusive workplace policies, Hindustan Zinc is redefining traditionally male-dominated environments. From appointing India’s first female underground mine managers to building the country’s first all-women underground rescue team, the company continues to champion gender inclusion.

Sharing her experience, Rubina Agvani, Graduate Trainee – Smelter Operations, said: “Being among the first women to work backshifts at Zinc Smelter Debari is an empowering experience. Hindustan Zinc’s inclusive culture, safety protocols, and mentorship have given me the confidence to push boundaries and grow professionally.”

Through its flagship campaign Women of Zinc, Hindustan Zinc aims to achieve 30% female representation by 2030. By building an equitable and future-ready workforce, the company is reshaping India’s metals and mining sector into a more inclusive and aspirational industry for women professionals.

Hindustan ZinC, India’s only and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has introduced night shifts for women employees at its Zinc Smelter Debari in Udaipur, Rajasthan – the country’s oldest zinc smelter. This milestone marks another significant step in the company’s journey towards greater diversity and inclusion.The initiative follows similar rollouts across Hindustan Zinc’s major operations, including Rampura Agucha Mine, Pantnagar Metal Plant, Chanderiya Smelting Complex, Kayad Mine, Zawar Mines, and Sindesar Khurd Mine in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. With these progressive measures, the company has achieved a gender diversity ratio of 26 per cent—among the highest in India’s metals, mining, and heavy engineering industries.Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Chairperson, Hindustan Zinc, said, “This is a proud moment for Hindustan Zinc and a significant step forward for India’s metals and mining sector. By integrating women in nightshift at our Zinc Smelter Debari, we’re not only breaking barriers but also setting new benchmarks for inclusion on the ground. True progress comes from empowering every individual to participate fully, lead fearlessly, and thrive equally.”Equipped with advanced technology, robust safety measures, and inclusive workplace policies, Hindustan Zinc is redefining traditionally male-dominated environments. From appointing India’s first female underground mine managers to building the country’s first all-women underground rescue team, the company continues to champion gender inclusion.Sharing her experience, Rubina Agvani, Graduate Trainee – Smelter Operations, said: “Being among the first women to work backshifts at Zinc Smelter Debari is an empowering experience. Hindustan Zinc’s inclusive culture, safety protocols, and mentorship have given me the confidence to push boundaries and grow professionally.”Through its flagship campaign Women of Zinc, Hindustan Zinc aims to achieve 30% female representation by 2030. By building an equitable and future-ready workforce, the company is reshaping India’s metals and mining sector into a more inclusive and aspirational industry for women professionals.

Equipment

29 Nov 2025

Powering India’s Infra Future

Excon 2025, South Asia’s largest construction equipment exhibition, is set to return in a grand 13th edition from 9-13 December 2025 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru. Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and supported by the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA), the mega event is expected to reinforce its position as the premier marketplace for construction technologies, equipment and infrastructure solutions. The event will host over 1,250 exhibitors, including 160+ international participants, and attract mor..

Infrastructure Urban

29 Nov 2025

India will be a strategic part of our growth to 2028

Smiley Monroe is strengthening its footprint in India as a key growth market for its conveyor belts and engineered components business. In this interaction, Prabhu Gopinath, Operations Director, outlines the company’s expansion roadmap, quality focus, and sustainability commitments driving future scale.Can you share Smiley Monroe's journey and its core mission?Smiley Monroe was started in Northern Ireland in 1979, supplying conveyor belts to local quarries. Since then, the company has grown to become a global leader in the supply of endless belts and CNC-cut rubber and plastic part..

Equipment

29 Nov 2025

Infra Engineers India Pvt Ltd Accelerates Hybrid Excavation

Infra Engineers India Pvt Ltd (IEPL), headquartered in Chennai, has emerged as a trusted name in the used construction equipment business for nearly a decade. What sets IEPL apart is its commitment to research and development, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation to deliver cutting-edge solutions to the industry.A first-of-its-kind hybrid excavatorAmong IEPL’s most significant achievements is the development of the pioneering Dual Electric & Diesel Hybrid Excavator—the first of its kind in the construction equipment industry, a breakthrough that even major OEMs have yet to..