UDAIPUR (India CSR): Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, announced today that its Board has approved the establishment of India’s first zinc tailings reprocessing plant at Rampura Agucha, Bhilwara district, Rajasthan. Tailings are the finely ground remnants left after mineral extraction. While these are considered as waste, they have plenty of residual metals and minerals which are difficult to extract. This state-of-the-art facility will extract metals like zinc and silver from previously processed tailings transforming what was once considered waste, into valuable resources.
This development comes as part of the company’s plan to double its production capacity. The new plant, with a capacity of 10 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), will be developed with an investment up to Rs 3,823 crores and is targeted for completion within 28 months from the zero date. By reprocessing tailings at Rampura Agucha Mine (the world’s largest underground zinc mining operations), Hindustan Zinc is set to reuse industrial by-products to generate value and promote resource efficiency. This initiative will support improved sustainability and contribute significantly to the circular economy.
Commenting on the development, Hindustan Zinc’s Chief Executive Officer – Arun Misra said: “We are proud to launch India’s first tailings reprocessing plant at Rampura Agucha, developed in partnership with global experts. This facility enables us to reprocess historical waste and store it responsibly, in line with high environmental standards. It strengthens our unique value proposition and supports our ambitious 2x growth vision while advancing our broader sustainability commitments. Modern tailing operations also create opportunities to innovate and recover a broader range of metals that are important for technological progress and the energy transition.”
Headquartered in Udaipur, Hindustan Zinc operates zinc, lead and silver underground mines, smelters (metal production plants) in the state of Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Earlier this year, the Board approved the first phase of investments aimed at doubling the company’s production capacity. These plans include expanding refined metal capacity by 250 kilotonnes per annum (KTPA) and upgrading mines and milling infrastructure across multiple locations, with an investment of nearly ₹12,000 crores. The expansions are strategically aligned with India’s projected doubling of zinc demand over the next five to ten years, driven by major investments in infrastructure and the steel sector.
As a listed company, Hindustan Zinc upholds independent governance and transparent sustainability reporting. The International Environmental Responsibility Program (IERP) has recognized the company’s leadership in tailings management, decarbonization, circular economy initiatives and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).
Strengthening its position as a leader in sustainable operations, Hindustan Zinc was ranked the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment in 2024 for the second consecutive year. Notably, Hindustan Zinc became the first Indian metals and mining company to secure Science Based Targets initiative validated 1.5°C- aligned emissions targets,
achieving a 15% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity in FY25 compared to a 2020 baseline, all while boosting production. In 2024, Hindustan Zinc launched Asia’s first low-carbon ‘green’ zinc, EcoZen, produced using renewable energy and introduced an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) verified zinc portfolio to underscore its commitment to transparency.
Recently, Hindustan Zinc has become India’s first member of the prestigious International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). By joining ICMM, Hindustan Zinc aligns with 40 rigorous performance expectations spanning Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices, further strengthening its spot amongst the global leaders in responsible and sustainable mining. The company continues to set new benchmarks in responsible mining, reinforcing India’s pivotal role in delivering a sustainable and ethical resource future.
(India CSR)
