Hindustan Zinc Charts Multi-metal Future as Cornerstone of 2x Growth Strategy

26 Aug 2025 CW Team

Addressing shareholders at the company’s 59th Annual General Meeting, Chairperson Priya Agarwal Hebbar said, “Hindustan Zinc is moving beyond its zinc and silver legacy to become a multi-metal, future-ready enterprise. As demand for critical minerals grows across clean energy, digital infrastructure, and national security, we are building the capabilities and global partnerships to responsibly power India’s growth.”

The company is advancing exploration in copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, potash, and rare earth elements, while evaluating prospects in neodymium, antimony, graphite and germanium. It is among the first private players in India to secure a rare earth (monazite) block, a land-based non-radioactive deposit distinct from traditional beach-sand reserves.

To accelerate this journey, Hindustan Zinc has launched international tenders for AI- and drone-led exploration, tapping expertise from Australia, South Africa, Chile and China. These initiatives are aligned with the Government’s Critical Minerals Roadmap and strengthen India’s mineral security.

On the financial and operational front, Hindustan Zinc continues to scale its presence. Its inclusion in NSE’s Futures & Options segment and placement within the Nifty Next 50 and Nifty 100 indices underline investor confidence. Earlier this year, the company ranked third in the Nifty Metal Index by market capitalisation and entered the top 10 wealth creators in the Nifty 200 Index.

The company is executing the first phase of its 2x growth strategy, investing nearly Rs 120 billion in a new 250 KTPA integrated refined metal smelter at Zinc Smelter Debari, Rajasthan, alongside mine and mill expansions. In parallel, a Rs 38.23 billion tailings reprocessing project at Rampura Agucha – the first of its kind in India – will process 10 million tonnes of feed to recover zinc and silver from historical tailings.

Diversification also extends downstream, with Hindustan Zinc investing in a large-scale fertiliser plant in Rajasthan that will use sulphuric acid by-products to support Indian agriculture, reduce import dependence, and conserve foreign exchange.

Sustainability remains central to Hindustan Zinc’s growth. Currently, 13 per cent of operations are powered by renewable energy, with a target of 70 per cent by FY28. The company has achieved 3.32 times water positivity and has been recognised as the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company by S&P Global CSA 2024 for the second consecutive year. It is also the first Indian mining company to join the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).

Hindustan Zinc 2.0 is anchored on three pillars: diversifying into a multi-metal enterprise, embedding sustainability and circular economy practices, and investing in future-ready technologies and exploration. The strategy reflects a shift from scale to nation-building growth, positioning the company as a key contributor to Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has announced a bold transformation agenda – Hindustan Zinc 2.0 – to evolve from a zinc-and-silver leader into a diversified, multi-metal enterprise powering India’s future growth.Addressing shareholders at the company’s 59th Annual General Meeting, Chairperson Priya Agarwal Hebbar said, “Hindustan Zinc is moving beyond its zinc and silver legacy to become a multi-metal, future-ready enterprise. As demand for critical minerals grows across clean energy, digital infrastructure, and national security, we are building the capabilities and global partnerships to responsibly power India’s growth.”The company is advancing exploration in copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, potash, and rare earth elements, while evaluating prospects in neodymium, antimony, graphite and germanium. It is among the first private players in India to secure a rare earth (monazite) block, a land-based non-radioactive deposit distinct from traditional beach-sand reserves.To accelerate this journey, Hindustan Zinc has launched international tenders for AI- and drone-led exploration, tapping expertise from Australia, South Africa, Chile and China. These initiatives are aligned with the Government’s Critical Minerals Roadmap and strengthen India’s mineral security.On the financial and operational front, Hindustan Zinc continues to scale its presence. Its inclusion in NSE’s Futures & Options segment and placement within the Nifty Next 50 and Nifty 100 indices underline investor confidence. Earlier this year, the company ranked third in the Nifty Metal Index by market capitalisation and entered the top 10 wealth creators in the Nifty 200 Index.The company is executing the first phase of its 2x growth strategy, investing nearly Rs 120 billion in a new 250 KTPA integrated refined metal smelter at Zinc Smelter Debari, Rajasthan, alongside mine and mill expansions. In parallel, a Rs 38.23 billion tailings reprocessing project at Rampura Agucha – the first of its kind in India – will process 10 million tonnes of feed to recover zinc and silver from historical tailings.Diversification also extends downstream, with Hindustan Zinc investing in a large-scale fertiliser plant in Rajasthan that will use sulphuric acid by-products to support Indian agriculture, reduce import dependence, and conserve foreign exchange.Sustainability remains central to Hindustan Zinc’s growth. Currently, 13 per cent of operations are powered by renewable energy, with a target of 70 per cent by FY28. The company has achieved 3.32 times water positivity and has been recognised as the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company by S&P Global CSA 2024 for the second consecutive year. It is also the first Indian mining company to join the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM).Hindustan Zinc 2.0 is anchored on three pillars: diversifying into a multi-metal enterprise, embedding sustainability and circular economy practices, and investing in future-ready technologies and exploration. The strategy reflects a shift from scale to nation-building growth, positioning the company as a key contributor to Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat.

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