Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company and one of the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, announced that its board of directors has approved India’s first zinc tailings reprocessing plant at Rampura Agucha in Bhilwara district, Rajasthan.
Mineral extraction leaves behind tailings, finely ground remnants that people typically consider waste. However, these tailings contain residual metals and minerals that conventional methods struggle to extract. The upcoming state-of-the-art facility will recover valuable metals like zinc and silver from these tailings, turning waste into a resource.
Part of Hindustan Zinc’s Capacity Doubling Plan
The project is a key milestone in Hindustan Zinc’s strategy to double its production capacity. The 10 million tons per annum (Mtpa) plant will be developed with an investment of up to ₹3,823 crore and is targeted for completion within 28 months from the zero date. The company will reprocess tailings at Rampura Agucha Mine, the world’s largest underground zinc mining operation. This initiative aims to reuse industrial by-products and drive resource efficiency and sustainability.
Supporting Circular Economy and Sustainability Goals
The reprocessing facility will play a significant role in strengthening the circular economy by recovering valuable metals from historical waste. Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, 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.”
Aligned with India’s Growing Zinc Demand
Hindustan Zinc operates zinc, lead, and silver underground mines along with metal smelters in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. Earlier this year, the company’s Board approved the first phase of its ₹12,000-crore expansion plan to double refined metal capacity by 250 KTPA and upgrade mines and milling infrastructure across multiple sites. As per the company press release, the strategic expansion aligns with India’s projected doubling of zinc demand in the next 5–10 years. This growth will be driven by major infrastructure investments and the expansion of the steel sector.
