We’re creating world-class facilities for optimal capacity utilisation

Over the past few decades, we have demonstrated that sustainable and climate-friendly practices create positive outcomes for every stakeholder. We are continuously increasing the share of blended cement which translates to a prudent use of our available limestone resources, and we endeavour to add to the sustainability quotient of each of our operations in the mining value chain.

Our mining assets are strategically positioned near resource hubs to optimise logistics costs so as to lower carbon emissions and reduce environmental impact. Our dry-process cement manufacturing units are powered by low carbon technologies, captive power plants and green fuels, with seamless access to open cast and limestone mining resources.

We’re switching to Green Fuel Adoption (Biofuels)

We are committed to developing solutions for our mining operations that do not affect the environmental ecosystem and help create a sustainable future. By switching to 100% green fuels, including biofuels, biogas, compressed biogas (CBG) and biomass, we’re increasing our green power generation, reducing our clinker factor in incremental stages and optimising clinker heat consumption.

We’ve already started using biodiesel in our mining operations by recently unveiling our high-capacity electronic trucks – the first of its kind in India. By shifting from liquid fossil fuels to biodiesel and electric vehicles for mobility within mines, plants and our supply chain, we’re pioneering green and clean manufacturing in India by decarbonising our fleet to foster clean mobility adoption.

In the coming years, we expect that biodiesel will make larger contribution in the reduction of GHG emissions, from liquid fossil fuels consumed in mining equipment to start-up fuel in cement operations and heavy-vehicles.

Our Sustainable Mining Blueprint

We’re accelerating our transition towards sustainability in our mining operations through our shared stewardship of the natural ethos, investments in innovative technologies and by following good business practices. Some of our initiatives include:

• Planting saplings in core and buffer zone of mines

• Carrying out proper manuring and watering at plantation sites to achieve more than 80% survival of planted saplings, besides developing a fruit garden

• Backfilling mined out areas and managing the topsoil containing vital nutrients for plant growth

• Maintaining the aesthetic beauty around reclaimed areas

• Use of biodiesel in HEMMs at all units to reduce carbon emissions from mining operations; we have used ~2319 KL of bio diesel in FY22 in our mines

• Judicious blending of low-grade limestone with cement grade limestone to enhance life of mines

• Crushing of reject boulders to produce aggregates used as building materials to minimise solid waste generation (waste to wealth)

• Use of bucket screen to benefit high siliceous limestone at one of our southern mines, as it has limestone admixed overburdened with high silica content

• Utilising used water bottles and waste cement bags in blast holes to optimise the consumption of explosives

• Use of hydraulic rock breakers where mines are close to habitation, national highways, among others

• Using non-electric system in blasting to reduce ground vibration

• Cross-functional team to carry out regular safety observation across mines and take timely corrective actions

• Dust suppression by water sprinkling along haul roads and installation of AAQMS (Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations) for continuous monitoring of air quality

• Maintaining garland drain around dump and regular desilting

• Bamboo plantation in reclaimed area of mines

• Transforming our mines through digitalisation

As the fastest growing cement company we have taken the onus of transforming our mining processes by digitalising our mines. This will help us optimise costs, enhance efficiencies in our mining operations, improve productivity, and meet global environment and business standards.

We have already begun connecting our mining value chain through digitalisation by creating a mobile app for safety reporting. This acts as a safety observation audit portal to record unsafe acts/conditions. The app is easily accessible from anywhere in a mine and one can instantly record unsafe working conditions and act upon them accordingly.

By digitising our mining operations, we are incorporating mine-specific, real-time monitoring solutions to improve our predictive and reporting capabilities. This includes accessibility and online tracking of limestone quality data from CBA through desktop and mobile applications, and remote monitoring of operational parameters for the equipment. We are using softwares such as Surpac and Autocad for geological modelling, mine planning and scheduling operations.

Converting mines to water reservoirs

At Dalmia Bharat we are putting in place optimum water management practices that will help reduce the consumption of water to alleviate any water-related risks and liabilities. At our mining sites, our focus primarily lies in water conservation as we see this as helping us meet our overall objective of ensuring sustainable mining.

For this, we are examining deep pockets across our mines to convert them into water reservoirs. To this end, water is being harvested during monsoon by providing water channels from catchment areas within the mining lease. The harvested water is then used for household and agricultural purposes by local communities, enabling us to follow a circular approach in our sustainability efforts.