Lloyds' Surjagarh mine set to be the first ‘green mine' of India
The Surjagarh Iron Ore Mine (SIOM), operated by Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL) in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, is on its way to becoming the first 'green mine' in India thanks to various environmentally-friendly initiatives and a strong focus on reducing its carbon footprint in mining.
SIOM has already achieved a remarkable reduction of 32,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Once the company transitions to renewable energy, this figure is projected to increase to approximately 50,000 tonnes per year. This progress stems from innovation, the use of green technology across mining processes — from drilling to dispatch — and LMEL's firm commitment to decarbonisation.
ET Spotlight
LMEL's decarbonisation efforts at the Surjagarh mine cover every stage of the mining operation, including drilling, loading, hauling, and logistics. 'Our core philosophy revolves around adopting green technologies, improving efficiency, fostering innovation, and engaging both employees and the local community, all in pursuit of 'green steel' production. This aligns perfectly with India's 'Net Zero' commitment,' observed B. Prabhakaran, Managing Director of LMEL.
LMEL reiterates its commitment to the global goal of securing a 'green future for all' while striking a balance between development and sustainability.
Growing fleet of green vehicles
ET Spotlight
The unparalleled initiatives in iron ore mining include a growing fleet of green vehicles (from 34 to 56 Bharat Electric Vehicles), which significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to improved public health, lower healthcare costs, and a decrease in India's reliance on fuel imports. In 2025-26, LMEL is poised to become the first mine in India to achieve the milestone of having more than 100 electric vehicles.
Live Events
At Surjagarh Iron Ore Mine, seven excavators have been deployed, fulfilling 100% loading capacity for primary mining. All loading equipment will eventually be fully electric-powered. These green operations will lead to lower and more stable energy costs and create new jobs in related sectors.
LMEL develops the world's first electric compressor excavator-mounted drill
ET Spotlight
A significant achievement at the Surjagarh mine is the complete transition to diesel-free drilling through the adoption of electric-powered compressors. LMEL has developed the world's first electric compressor excavator mounted drill, which has eliminated substantial high-speed diesel consumption.
LMEL has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability by developing an indigenous in-house technology to convert diesel excavators into electric-powered ones. These repurposed machines have undergone rigorous testing and have shown promising results, leading the company to expand this initiative to other models, incorporating enhanced safety features and aiming for prolonged equipment life and better productivity.
Plans afoot for LNG ecosystem in Gadchiroli district
ET Spotlight
Surjagarh is poised to become the largest green fleet mining operation in the country, with its own electric vehicle charging station. Battery electric loaders are used for secondary loading, and the company has also introduced battery electric light motor vehicles and a BEV motor grader. For ore transport, LNG prime movers for tip-trailers have been adopted, with plans to develop an LNG ecosystem in Gadchiroli district.
In keeping with its commitment to renewable energy, LMEL has signed MoUs with green (solar and wind) energy suppliers to replace grid power. The supplies are expected to commence in the second quarter of financial year 2025. .
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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Lloyds' Surjagarh mine set to be the first ‘green mine' of India
The Surjagarh Iron Ore Mine (SIOM), operated by Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL) in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra, is on its way to becoming the first 'green mine' in India thanks to various environmentally-friendly initiatives and a strong focus on reducing its carbon footprint in mining. SIOM has already achieved a remarkable reduction of 32,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. Once the company transitions to renewable energy, this figure is projected to increase to approximately 50,000 tonnes per year. This progress stems from innovation, the use of green technology across mining processes — from drilling to dispatch — and LMEL's firm commitment to decarbonisation. ET Spotlight LMEL's decarbonisation efforts at the Surjagarh mine cover every stage of the mining operation, including drilling, loading, hauling, and logistics. 'Our core philosophy revolves around adopting green technologies, improving efficiency, fostering innovation, and engaging both employees and the local community, all in pursuit of 'green steel' production. This aligns perfectly with India's 'Net Zero' commitment,' observed B. Prabhakaran, Managing Director of LMEL. LMEL reiterates its commitment to the global goal of securing a 'green future for all' while striking a balance between development and sustainability. Growing fleet of green vehicles ET Spotlight The unparalleled initiatives in iron ore mining include a growing fleet of green vehicles (from 34 to 56 Bharat Electric Vehicles), which significantly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to improved public health, lower healthcare costs, and a decrease in India's reliance on fuel imports. In 2025-26, LMEL is poised to become the first mine in India to achieve the milestone of having more than 100 electric vehicles. Live Events At Surjagarh Iron Ore Mine, seven excavators have been deployed, fulfilling 100% loading capacity for primary mining. All loading equipment will eventually be fully electric-powered. These green operations will lead to lower and more stable energy costs and create new jobs in related sectors. LMEL develops the world's first electric compressor excavator-mounted drill ET Spotlight A significant achievement at the Surjagarh mine is the complete transition to diesel-free drilling through the adoption of electric-powered compressors. LMEL has developed the world's first electric compressor excavator mounted drill, which has eliminated substantial high-speed diesel consumption. LMEL has demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability by developing an indigenous in-house technology to convert diesel excavators into electric-powered ones. These repurposed machines have undergone rigorous testing and have shown promising results, leading the company to expand this initiative to other models, incorporating enhanced safety features and aiming for prolonged equipment life and better productivity. Plans afoot for LNG ecosystem in Gadchiroli district ET Spotlight Surjagarh is poised to become the largest green fleet mining operation in the country, with its own electric vehicle charging station. Battery electric loaders are used for secondary loading, and the company has also introduced battery electric light motor vehicles and a BEV motor grader. For ore transport, LNG prime movers for tip-trailers have been adopted, with plans to develop an LNG ecosystem in Gadchiroli district. In keeping with its commitment to renewable energy, LMEL has signed MoUs with green (solar and wind) energy suppliers to replace grid power. The supplies are expected to commence in the second quarter of financial year 2025. .
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Lloyds receives expert panel nod to expand iron ore mining in Gadchiroli
Nagpur: The experts appraisal committee (EAC) under the environment and forests ministry has given a green signal to Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) application seeking an environmental clearance (EC) to extract up to 26 million tones per annum (MTPA) of iron ore from its mine at Surjagarh hills in Gadchiroli district. This approval allows LMEL, which currently has the only operational mine in Gadchiroli, to more than double its output. The EC will remains valid for a period of 30 years, according to the recommendation. Currently, LMEL has an EC to mine up to 10 MTPA of iron ore. The EAC recommendation also clears the way for the extraction of 45 million tonnes of banded hematite quartz (BHQ) from the iron ore block. While iron ore is found on the upper reaches of the mines, BHQ is extracted from the lower depths of the mine. This is later crushed to extract hematite. The company hopes to derive as much as 15 million tonnes of hematite after the crushing process, said sources. A recommendation by the EAC, which comes under the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEFCC), is the final step towards granting EC. A formal document is expected to be issued soon, said a source involved in the process. The EAC has also listed a number of conditions along with the recommendation to grant EC. The committee has proposed that there will be no transportation of BHQ by road. The company is already building a pipeline to transport it in slurry form. The company will have to follow up on the status of the wildlife implementation plan from the forest officials and submit it to the ministry's regional office in Nagpur. LMEL will also have to deploy equipment like camera traps to record the presence of wild animals and their movement in the area and take steps to control man-animal conflicts, says the EAC. The EAC has also recommended that the company should use at least 20% of vehicles that run on alternative energy like electric, solar, or CNG in the site area. The company has also been asked by the EAC to complete the public hearing commitments for the project within three years to address the people's concerns over the project. It will have to comply with all the action plans made to address the concerns and also record the outcomes. LMEL, which has mines at Surjagarh, is building an integrated steel complex at Konsari, over 100km away. The ore mined from Surjagarh would largely feed the steel complex at Konsari. Nagpur: The experts appraisal committee (EAC) under the environment and forests ministry has given a green signal to Lloyds Metals and Energy Limited (LMEL) application seeking an environmental clearance (EC) to extract up to 26 million tones per annum (MTPA) of iron ore from its mine at Surjagarh hills in Gadchiroli district. This approval allows LMEL, which currently has the only operational mine in Gadchiroli, to more than double its output. The EC will remains valid for a period of 30 years, according to the recommendation. Currently, LMEL has an EC to mine up to 10 MTPA of iron ore. The EAC recommendation also clears the way for the extraction of 45 million tonnes of banded hematite quartz (BHQ) from the iron ore block. While iron ore is found on the upper reaches of the mines, BHQ is extracted from the lower depths of the mine. This is later crushed to extract hematite. The company hopes to derive as much as 15 million tonnes of hematite after the crushing process, said sources. A recommendation by the EAC, which comes under the ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MOEFCC), is the final step towards granting EC. A formal document is expected to be issued soon, said a source involved in the process. The EAC has also listed a number of conditions along with the recommendation to grant EC. The committee has proposed that there will be no transportation of BHQ by road. The company is already building a pipeline to transport it in slurry form. The company will have to follow up on the status of the wildlife implementation plan from the forest officials and submit it to the ministry's regional office in Nagpur. LMEL will also have to deploy equipment like camera traps to record the presence of wild animals and their movement in the area and take steps to control man-animal conflicts, says the EAC. The EAC has also recommended that the company should use at least 20% of vehicles that run on alternative energy like electric, solar, or CNG in the site area. The company has also been asked by the EAC to complete the public hearing commitments for the project within three years to address the people's concerns over the project. It will have to comply with all the action plans made to address the concerns and also record the outcomes. LMEL, which has mines at Surjagarh, is building an integrated steel complex at Konsari, over 100km away. The ore mined from Surjagarh would largely feed the steel complex at Konsari.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Lloyds Metals reduces carbon footprint by 55% with Maharashtra's first slurry pipeline
After decarbonising its mining operations, Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd (LMEL) is now focusing on green logistics in the Gadchiroli district—an emerging steel manufacturing hub. The company has significantly reduced the carbon footprint of iron ore transportation by introducing an 87-kilometre-long slurry pipeline from its grinding plant at Hedri to the pellet plant at Konsari. The slurry pipeline, laid from the Surjagarh Iron Ore Mines to Konsari, has now been fully constructed and successfully tested. This pipeline is a major step in LMEL's commitment to green logistics, sustainability, and responsible industrial practices. Highlighting its significance, B. Prabhakaran, Managing Director, LMEL, stated: 'The commissioning of this slurry pipeline is a momentous occasion, marking the first such project in India after a gap of 11 years. Importantly, it will be the fourth operational iron ore slurry pipeline in the country and the first in the state of Maharashtra. This achievement firmly positions Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd as a true pioneer in the region.' The pipeline is expected to reduce freight costs by ₹500–600 per tonne. It offers a dual benefit—significant cost savings and a reduced carbon footprint, reflecting LMEL's environmental stewardship. There are two scenarios in the transportation of iron ore: one using coal-based power and another powered by renewable energy sources such as solar or wind. In the coal-powered scenario, transporting iron ore by road emits approximately 11 kg of carbon per tonne, equating to 1.1 lakh tonnes of emissions annually. In contrast, transportation via the slurry pipeline can reduce carbon emissions by 55%, amounting to a reduction of 61,000 tonnes per year, or 184 tonnes per day. If renewable energy is used to power the slurry pipeline, LMEL can potentially eliminate up to 100% of these emissions—an annual reduction of 1.1 lakh tonnes. In that scenario, carbon emissions would decrease by 333 tonnes per day, or approximately 9,200 tonnes per month. LMEL aims to achieve this milestone shortly. 3 lakh trees planted—and counting Minimising waste, transitioning to green energy, and reducing its carbon footprint are only a few components of LMEL's broader environmental commitment. Under its 'Mission Green' initiative—aligned with the vision of producing India's 'green steel'—the company has planted over 3 lakh trees across various locations. Thousands of saplings have also been distributed to key stakeholders, reinforcing a community-led approach to sustainability. By forest clearance conditions, LMEL allocated 377.58 hectares of private land in Arvi and Karanja talukas (Wardha district) for compensatory afforestation, in lieu of 374.90 hectares diverted for the Surjagarh Iron Ore Mine. A deposit of ₹2.49 crore was made with the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). Within this area, the State Forest Department planted 2,56,388 native saplings in Arvi taluka, which have since taken root. This land was officially declared a reserved forest on June 16, 2023—an encouraging testament to the initiative's success. At the Surjagarh mines, LMEL has planted 5,285 native saplings within the designated safety zone and an additional 14,000 saplings along roads from Etapalli to Hedri. To engage the local community, fruit gardens have been established by planting 1,800 saplings and distributing over 9,500 fruit-bearing saplings to residents. At its DRI Plant (Unit-2) in Konsari, LMEL has planted nearly 50,000 saplings over 17 hectares, in collaboration with the local Forest Department and using native species. As part of its greenbelt development strategy, LMEL continues to support biodiversity through the plantation of diverse native flora. Additionally, around 19,000 fruit-bearing plants have been distributed and planted in nearby villages to promote local participation in sustainable greening efforts. Disclaimer: The article has been produced on behalf of Lloyd Metals by the Times Internet's Spotlight team.
