FACOR hosts 26th Mines Environment & Mineral Conservation Week 2024–25

THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, MAY 27, 2025

Ferro Alloys Corporation Ltd. (FACOR), a key subsidiary of the Vedanta Group, brought the curtain down on the 26th Mines Environment & Mineral Conservation (ME&MC) Week 2024–25 with a vibrant finale that underscored the industry’s resolve to align growth with environmental stewardship. Held under the aegis of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Bhubaneswar, this year’s celebration carried the resonant theme “Safeguarding the Future with Sustainable Mining,” and attracted representatives from 91 mining operations across Odisha, including stalwarts such as Tata Steel, NALCO, JSW and OMC.

The concluding day opened with a ceremonial welcome to chief guest Peeyush Narayan Sharma, Controller General of IBM, who applauded the “collective clarity of purpose” shown by participating mines in tackling climate challenges. He was joined on the dais by Dr Pukhraj Nenival, Controller of Mines (East Zone); FACOR’s Chief Operations Officer Kamod Singh; and Muthumari M., FACOR’s Head – Mines and chairman of this year’s ME&MC Week. Together they reviewed the week-long series of mine inspections, on-site demonstrations, school outreach drives and technical colloquia designed to share best practices in biodiversity management, waste-rock utilisation and progressive land rehabilitation.

Throughout the week, mine teams showcased innovative approaches — from drone-based top-soil mapping to real-time water-quality dashboards — that illustrated how digital tools can sharpen compliance and cut environmental footprints. Student volunteers lent fresh energy to tree-planting campaigns, while an interactive exhibition on critical-mineral recycling drew steady crowds and lively debate. In his closing remarks, Singh credited this “culture of transparent partnership” for turning ME&MC Week into an incubator of ideas that can be quickly scaled across India’s resource corridors.

By hosting the finale at its Therubali complex, FACOR cemented its reputation as a first mover in responsible ferro-alloy production. The successful conclusion of the 26th ME&MC Week not only celebrated tangible advances in ecological performance but also reaffirmed the mining community’s shared commitment to ensuring that the minerals fuelling India’s growth are extracted with foresight, accountability and respect for the planet.