3 days ago
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.
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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.
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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
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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. .
