Hindustan Zinc Limited has expanded its critical minerals portfolio with the acquisition of two new mineral blocks—one for potash and halite and the other for rare earth elements (REEs). With these additions, the company now holds a total of three critical mineral blocks in India.
Hindustan Zinc has been declared the preferred bidder for India’s first-ever potash and halite block in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan. It has also secured preferred bidder status for a rare earth elements block in Sonbhadra district, Uttar Pradesh. In a further boost, the company has also received a letter of intent from the Andhra Pradesh government for the Balepalyam Tungsten and Associated Minerals Block.
Milestone for India’s Fertiliser Independence
Countries like Canada, Belarus, Jordan, and South Korea currently supply the majority of India’s potash imports. Developing domestic potash resources will lower India’s import reliance and make affordable fertilizers more accessible, directly supporting its agricultural sector.
CEO Reaffirms Focus on Mineral Security
Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, stated, “Securing the first-ever potash block in India and the Rare Earth Elements block is a testament to our prowess in strategic mineral exploration. We are aggressively foraying into the critical minerals segment and stand resolute in our commitment to support the nation’s mineral security goals for rapid economic growth.”
High-Potential Assets for Future Growth
The newly secured blocks hold significant mining potential. The potash and halite block in Hanumangarh covers 1,841.22 hectares, and the REE block in Sonbhadra spans 210.01 hectares. Hindustan Zinc has strong in-house exploration and mining capabilities. This positions the company to unlock value from both sites and further strengthen its footprint in the critical metals and strategic minerals sector.
Driving India’s Mineral Self-Reliance
As reported by manufacturingtodayindia.com, the developments align with India’s broader goal of mineral self-reliance. This is especially crucial for sectors vital to agriculture, energy, and technology. Hindustan Zinc’s strategic acquisitions reinforce its role as a key enabler of India’s critical mineral ecosystem and industrial growth.
