Page 8 - 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 Rise of

Hindustan Zinc:

From Humble

Beginnings

to a Silver Giant

In the vast landscape of India’s metals and mining
sector, Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) has emerged
as one of the world’s foremost producers of silver.
What began as a zinc-focused mining company in
the 1960s has evolved over decades into a global
powerhouse, proudly holding the title of the world’s
third-largest silver producer. This remarkable journey
is not just a story of corporate milestones but one of
vision, innovation, and adaptability to the changing
tides of the global market.

A Foundation Built on Zinc, with Silver as a Byproduct

Hindustan Zinc’s journey began in 1966 as a
public-sector undertaking by the
Government of India. Its mission was
clear: to meet the nation’s demand
for zinc, a critical metal for steel,
infrastructure, automotive, and
sunrise sectors like renewable energy,
electronics, hi-tech manufacturing,
energy storage, defense, and electric
mobility. The company’s mining operations
span across different districts of Rajasthan,
including Udaipur, Rajsamand, Bhilwara,
and Ajmer. These regions, rich in zinc ore,
boast a mining history of over 2,000 years,
with the earliest evidence of zinc mining
found in Zawar, Udaipur. Initially, the silver
traces in these ores were regarded as
incidental byproducts, yet they revealed an
essential untapped asset.

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