Sandur Group's Environmental and Renewable Energy Initiatives: A Comprehensive Overview

The Sandur Group is an exception when environmental sensitivity and sustainable practices are called for, having established a commitment to renewable energy and resource conservation. The company mines produce ferroalloys, manufactures coke, and generates energy. On the way, it has done a great deal of work to minimize its footprint on the planet and its operations in line with the demands for sustainability. This report encapsulates the various activities undertaken by Sandur Group during 2023–24 on clean energy, water conservation, and resource use efficiency. Renewable Energy and Clean Energy Initiatives Among the stellar works that Sandur Group has been able to achieve in the recent financial year is the focus on renewable energy installations. Both grid and off-grid solar installations at mining sites form part of its contribution to electricity needs. Further, solar water heating systems, streetlights, home lighting, and solar pumps have been installed across the registered office, mining sites, and residential colonies. These approaches not only reduce dependence on conventional sources of energy but also underline the commitment of the company to sustainable development. During this period, the Sandur Group also added another 200 kW on-grid solar installation to its renewable energy generation capacity. This thrust on solar energy forms part of the overall approach toward integrating renewable sources into the mix for energy use by the company, which ought to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy security. Further, in tune with its environmentally clean energy objective, Sandur Group also commissioned two Waste Heat Recovery Boilers of 60 TPH each. These boilers recover waste heat emanating from non-recovery type coke ovens and convert the same into electricity, thus improving efficiency in the use of energy and lessening the carbon footprint resulting from the company's industrial operations. These kinds of initiatives underscore the proactive course taken by Sandur Group in putting waste to work and optimizing resources in the best possible manner, thereby setting a high benchmark for this industry regarding environmental stewardship. Energy efficiency and water conservation efforts Besides renewable energies, much effort has been extended by the Sandur Group for energy efficiency through various means within its operations. The major recent development in this line has been the commissioning of an air-cooled condenser—a direct dry cooling system that uses ambient air to extract sensible heat along with latent heat from the exhaust steam of turbines. This technology drastically cuts down the water footprint, compared to traditional water-cooled condensers, by a great degree and hence leads to the saving of a large amount of water. The ACC system underlines the innovative approach of the company towards conserving water as an important resource in industrial processes. Another energy-saving measure employed by the company is the deployment of VFDs for the ID fans and FD fans at its power and ferroalloy plants. VFDs are crucial in giving variableness to the motors, which, in turn, cuts down on energy usage related to equipment operation. Energy savings are thus very significant. Technological advances such as this demonstrate the commitment of the Sandur Group to ensure that its use of resources is optimized to minimize the occurrence of variances in the environment. The company has constructed 53 rainwater harvesting pits, many check dams, and silt-settling tanks in the mining lease area to aid improvement in the recharge of groundwater. According to the norms laid by the GEC, it has been estimated that around 11,871 kg per day of water was recharged in the financial year 2023-24 alone. These efforts go a long way in not only facilitating water conservation but also in helping to maintain ecological balance in the company's vicinity of operation. Business continuity, environmental impact, and community involvement Apart from its environmental initiative, Sandur Group has an appropriate business continuity plan in place to make operations resilient. From time to time, the company undertakes training and sensitization sessions on the concept of business continuity at its mines and plant locations. Periodically, the BCP shall be tested to identify gaps so that necessary changes can be made in the plan for its effectiveness in case the company faces disruptions or emergencies. Despite its widespread operations, Sandur Group reported no significant negative environmental impacts from the value chain in this reporting period. However, it has not conducted an environmental impact assessment of the value chain partners during this period. This, therefore, gives the area where improvement can potentially be done in the future, as an assessment and mitigation of environmental risks across the entire value chain is crucial for comprehensive management in terms of sustainability. The Sandur Group reaffirms its commitment to community activities and has put in place a grievance-redressing mechanism for the community. Such grievances may be addressed by email or HR/administration teams at the plant locations. This would help address the concerns of the local community quickly and maintain a good relationship between the company and the local communities in its areas of operation. Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Consumer Relations In the current time of digital civilization, cybersecurity and data privacy are essential issues for any organization. Bearing this in mind, a Cyber Security and Risk Management Policy has been implemented to safeguard the digital assets of the Sandur Group and ensure data privacy. No significant case of cybersecurity breaches or violations of data privacy has been recorded during the reporting period. It is such proactive steps in cybersecurity that enable the organization to retain the trust of all its stakeholders' concerning security regarding sensitive information. Consumer relations are an area of concern, too, at Sandur Group. The company puts up all the details about its products and services on its website and also in the periodical results that it comes out with, like the annual reports. This apart, the company had not carried out any consumer satisfaction surveys during the period covered by this study but has a practice of attending to the queries and complaints of the consumers immediately. Justified, as such customer-friendly behavior would lead to a healthy market image and ultimate business success. Conclusion The various initiatives on renewable energy development, water conservation, and environmental care undertaken by the Sandur Group are a testament to its commitment to sustainable development and responsible business goals. The company stands recognized in the industry due to its focus on clean energy, efficient resource management, and community engagement. Further, it continues to progress toward its sustainability goals and is committed to making a difference in the environment and communities. Source: BRSR Credit: The Sandur Group