Mumbai

Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), the largest zinc producer in the country and among the top five globally, will set up 300 KTPA greenfield zinc smelter at Doswada, Gujarat. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between HZL and Government of Gujarat for this. Spread over 415 acres, the facility will entail an investment of Rs 5000-Rs 10,000 crore in phases, create more than 5000 direct and indirect jobs and will be operational by 2022. The new facility - the first for Hindustan Zinc in the state of Gujarat - will be set up with zero discharge technology and will be among the lowest cost smelters in the world. Located in proximity with port and key markets of consumption, the new facility will produce zinc and other minor metals.

The MoU was signed today by M K Das, IAS, Addl. Chief Secy, Industries and Mines, Government of Gujarat and Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc in the presence of Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani. Anil Agarwal, Founder and Non-Executive, Chairman, Vedanta Limited virtually attended the signing. This is one of the largest MoUs signed by the state of Gujarat under the State’s modified industrial policy.

Vijay Rupani, Chief Minister of Gujarat, said “We will extend all support to ensure that the plant is commissioned in stipulated time. The plant will substantially increase employment and thereby boost the economy in the region.”

Doswada GIDC is located in Tapi, and offers unmatched proximity to the existing Hazira port (110 kms) and upcoming Megdala port (90 kms). The new facility will be a model plant - incorporating the latest technology, automation and highest standards of environment and health safety compliance.

Anil Agarwal, Non-Executive Chairman and Founder, Vedanta Group, said, “It is my honour to lead the foray of our group company Hindustan Zinc into the illustrious state of Gujarat. At Vedanta Group, we believe that tough times are the best times to invest into the future. This new plant is not just a world class facility but the culmination of the Group’s learning in creating a model that embodies the highest standards of efficiency, eco-friendliness, technology and automation, quality and infrastructure. Given the reputation of Gujarat as an industrial hub of the country, it is our pleasure to build our dream project in zinc here. With this facility, we will together take India to the map of most efficient producers of zinc in the world. We have set out on a path towards Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

The new facility will be in close proximity to the downstream user industries. Besides, it will aid in development of industrial clusters as well as ancillary industries in the future.

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Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, stated, “Vedanta Group and Hindustan Zinc have always held community development and upliftment agenda as the focal point of our business. We are excited to set up coast-based operations in the state of Gujarat and the location couldn’t be more apt for this project. We plan to complete the Doswada unit by 2022 and this plant will not only create jobs for thousands of people in the state; but more importantly, will set a benchmark among industry as an environmentally-responsible and future-ready facility”.

Hindustan Zinc has been a pioneer in multiple technology-led and operations initiatives. Recently, the company launched EVOLVE, India’s first online marketplace for non-ferrous metals.