Other States - Rajasthan   

Hindustan Zinc expands its capacity

Sunny Sebastian

Now it's the largest producer of zinc in the country

CHANDERIYA (RAJASTHAN): Hindustan Zinc Limited, now a private sector company forming part of Vedanta Resources, on Saturday announced commencement of commercial production at its 170,000 tonnes per annum expansion project at Chanderiya in south Rajasthan's Chittorgarh district. With this, HZL, taken over by Vedanta (then Sterlite) Resources in April 2002, has become India's largest and only integrated zinc producer with a capacity of 400,000 tonnes per annum. At global level HZL is the six largest zinc producer.

The presence of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Industries Minister Narpat Singh Rajvi and a host of other Ministers and MPs from the area marked the launch of the new plant which is the world's largest single stream hydrometallurgical zinc smelter which will meet India's entire zinc needs.

The expansion project involved an investment of Rs.1,500 crores which included the costs of a 154 MW captive power plant, largest of its kind in Rajasthan, and of expansion of mines at Rampura Agucha. Anil Agarwal, the Chairman of Vedanta Resources, said the project was completed ahead of time and below the estimated costs.

"This is the world's fastest commissioned zinc plant," Mr.Agarwal, whose company owns Madras Aluminium Limited and Bharat Aluminium Limited besides mines in Australia and Zambia, said. HZL would be increasing the production of silver threefold and expanding lead capacity from 35,000 tonnes to 85,000 tonnes per annum, he said. The power plant would meet the entire power needs of the unit and improve cost efficiencies. "Rajasthan has done it. It has proved that investment is coming into the State as a result of the efforts made by the Government," said Ms. Raje, who formally launched the operation at the new plant and the power station.

Investment from HZL, one of the five big companies, was a clear indication of the conducive atmosphere for industries prevailing in Rajasthan, she pointed out.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Hindustan Zinc expands its capacity

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu