HZL remains at the forefront of transformation in the mining sector, implementing best-in-class technological solutions to strengthen its competitive edge. Its journey towards digitalisation and technological excellence has led to the emergence of several consequent opportunities in 2020 and beyond.
This year, HZL launched a collaboration centre, which can be easily termed as one of the world’s best Internet of things (IoT) setups in the mining industry. This Centre has infused data-driven decision-making across our operations. For us, this step goes a long way in nurturing an ecosystem where our operations team, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), data scientists and senior management collaborate seamlessly towards meaningful outcomes. Relevant data from our mines, mills, smelters and power plants are integrated into a single platform, providing a holistic view and strengthening the foundation for a digital enterprise, while offering several other possibilities.
The Centre is working on advanced analytical modelling to allow accurate predictions to prevent major equipment failures and production losses, thereby optimising our assets and operations. This strategy will lead to an increase in metal recovery by ~2%, while cost optimisation in our underground operations and in the smelting process is already visible.
HZL launched a project called ‘Drishti’ to make the underground mining process more predictable, reliable and sustainable with maximum safety using state-of the art technology. Under ‘Drishti’, we target to improve the overall underground equipment effectiveness by over 10% this year. To achieve this, we established a high bandwidth Wi-Fi network to facilitate two-way communication with underground equipment and personnel. This enables us to track man, machine and material movement, examine progress of tasks on real-time basis and manage data centrally. In essence, it helps us provide the right information at the right time, in the right format to the right person.
Under ‘Drishti’, we are now vested with a unique ability to monitor and predict the health of equipment, which operate as deep as a kilometre below ground. This helps us shift from the current practice of preventive to condition-based predictive maintenance. Additionally, this will also empower us with a unique functionality of traffic management on ramp, which has the potential to significantly reduce the idling time and ensure better safety.
During FY2020, HZL’s marketing team completed the Phase I development milestone for e-Volve, a first-in-the-Zinc industry, B2B online commerce platform. e-Volve is set to go-live in Q1FY21 and will transform the way metals are purchased in India – and enable ‘Buy in three clicks’.
e-Volve aims to be the digital marketplace of choice for zinc, lead and silver consumers within the country. It enables them to place orders in just three-clicks on real-time, INR prices with minimum order quantity of as low as one tonne and offers delivery from our extensive network of warehouses. This digital marketplace is expected to enable HZL reach out to over 2,000 customers of zinc, lead and silver and will reduce transaction and inventory costs for the industry.
