At Hindalco, we have captive capabilities to source our own major raw materials for aluminium production, and also to cater to our energy needs:
- Coal mining
- Bauxite mining
Coal mining
Manufacturing is at the heart of India’s growth model and a large rise in energy is needed to fuel India’s development. Coal is one of the most important raw materials in manufacturing. India is home to the fifth largest coal reserves in the world. In the coal auctions held by Ministry of Coal, Government of India, Hindalco won the following four coal mines in 2015:
- Gare Palma IV/4 mine in Chhattisgarh
- Gare Palma IV/5 mine in Chhattisgarh
- Kathautia mine in Jharkhand
- Dumri mine in Jharkhand
In a recent e-auction of Commercial Coal Blocks in 2021, Hindalco has won the Chakla Coal Block in Jharkhand.
Among the above coal mines, Gare Palma IV/5 is an underground mine while Gare Palma IV/4 is a combination of both opencast and underground mining. The others are opencast mines. Hindalco is operating Gare Palma IV/4, Gare Palma IV/5 and Kathautia coal mines while Dumri and Chakla are in development stage.
The mines are focused on maintaining safe and sustainable operations through appropriate methodology. These captive sources together with linkage coal sources from CIL provide coal security to meet Hindalco’s energy needs.
Bauxite mining
Hindalco bauxite mines are spread in 4 different states:
- Jharkhand
- Odisha
- Chhattisgarh
- Maharashtra.
There are in total 27 leases of bauxite mines with Hindalco, some of which exist from 1940s. Total EC capacity of the bauxite mines is approx. 15 million metric tonne. These mines are spread over three geological zones – West coast region, Chotanagpur region and East coast region. Environment friendly initiatives of Hindalco include Bagru ropeway and LDC (Long Distance Conveyor) installed at Baphlimali mines in Orissa. Bauxite mines have played a major role in the Hindalco’s sustainability drive. Water conservation through rain water harvesting and other such initiatives has helped us being a water positive company.
Hindalco has believed in taking the society along with its own development. The CSR activities are carried out in five focus areas – namely health, education, infrastructure, sustainable livelihood and social causes. In Jharkhand, the CSR activities are being carried out in 118 villages, out of which Hindalco will adopt 23 villages to develop them as the model villages.
We have won several awards in safety and environment. Our mines have won National Safety Award by the Hon’ble President of India in different categories for the year 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2018. FIMI has awarded the environmental award for 2018-19 to Bhusar bauxite mines
We do not only focus on mining, but see mining as a prime sustainable developmental area in the national interest. As a key sustainable drive, we have developed a Bio-Park (Dhumkuria and Birsa Upvan) at Bagru mines in the mined-out area. We are working on the project of red mud disposal at the mines pit in the mined-out area at Baphlimali mines.
We have created several water harvesting ponds in each plateau towards our journey to water positivity. Also, we have backfilled the 70% of the mined-out area and subsequently hand over to the village land owners for agricultural purpose.