Page 10 - Bullion World Volume 04 issue 12 December 2024

Bullion World | Volume 4 | Issue 12 | December 2024
B ullion W orld | V olume 4 | I ssue 12 | D ec ember 2024
Silver IconS of India

The 2000s: A New Era of Transformation Under Vedanta

With fresh investments, Hindustan
Zinc enhanced its mining
operations, refining techniques,
and smelting capacities.
This transformation fuelled
unprecedented growth in silver
production, establishing Hindustan
Zinc as a key player in the global
silver market. From producing 47
MT of silver in FY 2002-03, the
company achieved a record-
breaking 746 MT in FY 2023-24,
a growth of over 15 times in
two decades.

4th April 2002 signing ceremony of disinvestment of Hindustan A major factor in this exponential
Zinc : (from left to right) Shri Pradeep Baijal – the then Secretary, growth was Sindesar Khurd
Department of Disinvestment, Govt. of India, Dr. A.K. Kundra – the Mine, now the world’s second-
then Secretary, Ministry of Coal & Mines, Govt. of India and Shri Anil
Agarwal – Chairman, Vedanta Group at Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi largest silver-producing mine.
The mine’s rich mineral ore has
The most significant turning point in Hindustan Zinc’s history came been instrumental in supporting
in 2002 when UK-based mining giant Vedanta Resources, led by global industrial growth and the
industrialist Mr Anil Agarwal, acquired the company. The acquisition energy transition. Sindesar Khurd
was a game-changer, infusing much-needed capital, cutting-edge Mine is also widely recognized as
technology, and global expertise. Recognized as one of India’s most the world’s most technologically
successful disinvestments by the government, Vedanta’s acquisition advanced mine, featuring fully
initiated a period of rapid expansion and modernization of the automated and digitalized
operations. operations.

A Record-Breaking
Milestone: Silver
Production Soars

By the 2010s, Hindustan Zinc had firmly
established itself among the world’s top silver
producers. In 2021, its production numbers
demonstrated not just dominance
but alignment with India’s vision of
Atmanirbhar Bharat.

In FY 2023-24, Hindustan Zinc produced a
record-breaking 746 metric tonnes of silver,
reaffirming its remarkable growth. Sindesar
Khurd Mine, in particular, achieved a milestone
of 5.65 million tonnes in ore production.
This reflects Hindustan Zinc’s focus on cost-
effective production, technological innovation,
and operational excellence.

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