Transforming and strengthening India

MENT & FINANCE INDUSTRY INSIGHT

Transforming & strengthening

India-based Hindustan Zinc has maintained a strong legacy of delivery at a higher rate and has been successfully giving back to the nation by being the number one taxpayer in Rajasthan state. It contributes 1.8% of the state’s GDP.

One of the key contributors in the company’s growth story includes a robust reserve and resource base with over 25 years of mine life, high safety standards, environmentally friendly sustainable operations, and using the best technology.

Where it all started

Hindustan Zinc was set up with a vison of being a key protagonist in the country’s growth, with the humble beginning of commissioning a 18 000 tonnes per annum (tpa) smelter at Debari in 1966. Over the next 10 years, the company became profitable and started to produce sufficient zinc in India by undertaking various growth strategies and expansion plans.

The acquisition of Hindustan Zinc Limited by Sterlite Group (now known as Vedanta Group) took place in 2002. The company generated astonishing results instantly, as it registered 113.8% of profit within a year. In 2005, it accelerated its growth through various expansions and commissions to prepare for its journey to become one of the world’s largest and most admired zinc-lead-silver companies. In the subsequent years, through various expansion and debottlenecking initiatives, Hindustan Zinc became the world’s second largest integrated zinc producer and recently created a benchmark within the mining industry as it crossed 1 million tonnes of zinc-lead MIC (metal in concentrate) – a target envisaged by the company.

The quality of the products produced by Hindustan Zinc is an industry standard, which has garnered the company approximately 80% market share in India’s primary zinc market. The company is the world’s sixth largest silver producer and has started with 100% auction sales of silver by leveraging a digital platform.

Achieving SDGs

Hindustan Zinc is effectively working towards enhancing its business model while also being conscious about the environment by embarking on an ambitious journey to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals 2025. Their motto is to transform the planet through ‘Zero Harm, Zero Waste, Zero Discharge’. From currently being 2.41 times water-positive, the company aims to be 5 times water-positive in the future. Furthermore, Hindustan Zinc has recently set a new benchmark as it becomes the first mining company in India to introduce electric vehicles in underground mines and has received board approval to source 200 MW in green energy for its operations.

Strong partnerships are key when working with communities to achieve long-term social, environmental and economic outcomes. These have led to the company transforming the lives of 1.4 million people across 234 villages in and around its operations. In the last five years, Hindustan Zinc has contributed Rs808.52Cr (R1.67 billion) for community development through numerous flagship programmes in the domains of quality education, woman empowerment, childcare and sustainable livelihoods.

As a socially and environmentally responsible corporate, Hindustan Zinc intends to continue its efforts towards the goal of nation-building, taking forward the vision of Vedanta Group – ‘Transforming for Good’.