Hindustan Zinc's integrated metal production reports 11% surge in Q3

Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), a Vedanta group company, reported an 11% increase in integrated metal production to 2,61,000 tonnes in the third quarter of FY22, owing to improved plant and mined metal availability as well as improved operating parameters. HZL said in a filing to the BSE that its integrated metal production was 2,35,000 tonnes last year. In Q3 FY'21, integrated zinc production was 214,000 tonnes, up 17% from Q3 FY'20. In the third quarter of FY'22, refined lead production was 47,000 tonnes, down 10% from the previous quarter. Higher ore production at Sindesar Khurd and Zawar mines, as well as higher feed grade at Rampura Agucha, drove up mined metal production by 3% to 2,52,000 tonnes, aided by improved recovery, but offset in part by lower ore metal grade. Hindustan Zinc is the largest zinc-lead miner in India and the world's second-largest. Their mine life is over 25 years, with a reserve base of 150.3 million mt, an average zinc-lead grade of 7.8%, and mineral resources of 297.6 million mt. In India's primary zinc industry, fully integrated zinc operations currently hold a 78% market share. With an annual capacity of 800 mt, they are the world's sixth-largest silver producer. Lead-zinc mines, hydrometallurgical zinc smelters, lead smelters, pyrometallurgical lead-zinc smelters, sulphuric acid, and captive power plants are all part of Hindustan Zinc's operations in northwest India. A total of 890,000 mt of zinc and 205,000 mt of lead can be produced. Image Source