Hindustan Zinc, owned by Vedanta has initiated a USD 2-2.5 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) capex plan to double its metal production to over two million tonne.

The zinc and silver producer will engage with global contractors who would look at mine expansion and development. Mined metal will include doubling zinc capacity to two MT, lead and silver from 800 tonne to 2,000 tonne.

The company recently roped in two Australian mine-planning and mine contracting entities. It has also engaged a consultant to work on expanding zinc smelting capacity, as a combination of greenfield and brownfield diversification. It has been recommended that mines have to be developed in a particular manner to make adequate ore for the targeted capacity.

For FY25, the company has guided for a mined metal production of 1.2 MT and in H1 its production was around 0.52 MT. It operates six mines located in Rajasthan. It has three smelter also.