Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], May 3: Leading the integration of advanced technologies to elevate safety standards across its mining operations, India’s largest aluminium producer Vedanta reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of mining workforce at its Jamkani coal mines in Odisha on the occasion of National Coal Miners’s Day.
Notably, Vedanta’s first greenfield coal project is Jamkani coal mines in Odisha.
Vedanta Aluminium CEO Rajiv Kumar stated, “Safety and well-being of our workforce is a non-negotiable priority. On Coal Miners’ Day, we are proud to lead AI and technology innovations that are redefining safety standards in mining and reflecting our commitment to building smart, secure and sustainable operations.”
The CEO further stated that Vedanta Aluminium’s proactive adoption of AI and drone technologies underscores its commitment to creating a Zero-Harm culture and nurturing a safe, future-ready workforce. These initiatives align with the Mines Act, 1952 which mandates robust safety, health and emergency response measures.
These initiatives mark the deployment of an AI-powered, drone-based surveillance system. This cutting-edge solution enables real-time aerial monitoring of a 500-meter blasting zone, automatically detecting and recording the presence of humans, animals and vehicles.
The system also facilitates live streaming and instant alerts in case of unauthorized access or anomalies, ensuring swift and proactive corrective action.
Launched in collaboration with Vedanta’s Spark Innovation Programme, the drone system also supports two-way audio communication between officials, drone pilots, and the blasting officer, improving coordination and operational efficiency.
Vedanta Aluminium has further piloted drone-based stockpile volumetric analysis at its company’s Jamkani coal mines. This system analyses the entire stockyard and delivers comprehensive reports within 12 hours significantly faster and safer than traditional methods.
Importantly, it eliminates the need for placing personnel in potentially hazardous areas.
Since mining vehicles are key to transporting goods from the mines and the safety of drivers who operate these vehicles is also paramount to Vedanta, the company has designed a fatigue monitoring system which is designed to enhance driver safety by providing real-time alerts as a first line of response in cases of drowsiness, mobile phone usage and other distractions.
By promptly notifying drivers of unsafe behaviours, the system helps prevent accidents and ensures the safe and efficient operation of mining vehicles.
For vehicle safety, Vedanta has also installed a proximity-based collision avoidance system. This innovation enhances vehicle safety by detecting blind spots in front of the vehicle and issuing real-time alerts to drivers.
By increasing driver awareness of potential hazards, the system helps prevent collisions and supports safe operational practices within the mining environment.
The company is also actively piloting several other digital safety technologies at Jamkani, including an AI-powered safety non-compliance detection system that uses smart CCTV to flag real-time violations.
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