Industrial Automation Magazine India

Renewable energy is a key element of our commitment to sustainability

Published on : Thursday 07-09-2023

Naivedya Agarwal, Chairman MRPL, CEO & Co-Founder, Runaya.

What are the innovations MRPL is bringing to the mining sector in India? What are the specific products for underground tunneling and other support solutions?
Minova Runaya is dedicated to fostering sustainable growth and driving innovation. Our extensive product portfolio from friction bolts, hollow bolts, self-drilling anchors to lock set resin capsules transform the safety performance of tunnels and underground mines while also reducing import dependency.
 
Our groundbreaking technology is not only highly efficient but also tailored to solve the most critical challenges faced across various sectors, whether it's the demanding terrains of tunneling, the infrastructure demands of rail and road networks, or the robust need of hydropower projects.
 
Our solutions stand out due to their unique engineering features. The threads meticulously crafted by our bolt threading machines ensure a high level of precision and reliability. Deformations, induced by paddling machines, enhance performance characteristics, and our press technology ensures high productivity and precision in bearing plate manufacturing,
 
What is the contribution of Minova to this JV in terms of technology that fills the gaps?
Minova's legacy of over 140 years in ground support solutions, coupled with Runaya's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and efficiency, forms the backbone of our collaborative effort. Together we are transforming the safety landscape in India by outperforming all our peers in terms of the support that our products are able to provide. We have already supplied our self drilling anchors to L&T to enable the construction of a tunnel for RVNL.
 
Both partners working together provides fast-tracked innovation, localised customisation, alongside a continuous feedback loop, ensuring that the products and solutions provided are not only technologically advanced but also finely tuned to meet the specific needs of the industry.
The collaboration also enables the introduction of proven solutions that tackle geotechnical challenges across various domains. This synergy allows us to create advanced products and solutions that elevate safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the mining industry.
 
How dependent is the Indian mining sector on imported technology? How does this venture with Minova seek to address this issue for greater self-reliance?

Historically, the Indian mining sector has relied heavily on imported technology, with everything from small safety equipment to large smelters being imported. By introducing cutting-edge, domestically manufactured solutions that were previously unavailable, we are playing our small role in enabling an Atmanirbhar Bharat. Moreover, we are also targeting to export 30% of our capacity to global markets allowing us to Make in India for the world.
 
Mining is energy intensive as well as environmentally degrading activity conventionally. Are things now changing for the better?
As a supplier to mining companies in India and abroad, we have seen a large push from our customers for more sustainable solutions that allow them to meet their ESG goals. At MRPL, this is at the core of our DNA with 65% of our current production being done via renewable energy sources with a target to reach 100% in the next 2 years. We are also now going to start sourcing Green Steel to further reduce our carbon footprint.
 
What role does renewable energy play at MRPL? Is there a captive production of solar power or is it procured from external sources?
Renewable energy is a key element of our commitment to sustainability. We currently generate 85% of our power requirement through rooftop solar and will reach 100% in the next 2 years. We believe that generating our own green energy will have a greater impact on society, allowing existing capacities to be used by companies who may not have the ability to generate their own.
 
Automation is a game changer today along with the use of AI. How automated are the works of MRPL in its production facilities?
Our operations extensively integrate Industry 4.0 technologies such as AI to automate various aspects of our plant to enhance productivity, quality, and safety.
 
Automated processes are seamlessly woven into various stages of production, ensuring uniformity and efficiency. We have automated various stages of the production process, including raw material processing, quality assurance, and packaging. These automated processes boost not just productivity and accuracy; they also contribute to enhanced safety performance at our plant.
 
One of the key differentiators that sets MRPL apart is our integration of AI-driven insights. AI algorithms analyse data from our production processes in real-time, allowing us to identify patterns, predict potential issues, and optimise operations. This predictive approach enables us to carry out timely maintenance, minimise downtime, and maximise efficiency. Additionally, AI enhances our quality control by identifying deviations and anomalies that might be missed by traditional methods.
 
Runaya has a track record of recycling waste in aluminium smelting. Can this be replicated in processing other metals?

Runaya’s success in waste recycling within the aluminium sector is a testament to our commitment to sustainability. While the specific processes may vary based on the properties of different metals, the underlying principles of waste recycling can certainly be replicated. We are now expanding our recycling activities by processing both smelting and mining waste from the Zinc value chain, not only recovering Base Metals but also minor metals such as Nickel, Lithium, Cadmium, Cobalt and Silver.
 
Naivedya Agarwal is the Co-Founder and CEO at Runaya where he leads the Manufacturing Technologies vertical. As an advocate and a firm believer in technology and innovation leading to business growth, Naivedya also drives the digitisation journey and strategic growth roadmap for Runaya. Prior to founding Runaya, Naivedya worked with organisations such as Boston Consulting Group, JP Morgan, and Vedanta Resources – where he was Vice President, Business Development – and at Hindustan Zinc.
 
Naivedya holds an MBA degree from London Business School and is a qualified scuba diver and has trained as a pilot on the Cessna 172 aircraft. In the six years since its inception, Runaya had established itself as a trusted partner to all stakeholders, including customers, employees, and society, with a strong focus on governance and sustainability.