Hindustan Zinc plans tailings plant to recover zinc and critical minerals

what happened

Hindustan Zinc is planning a tailings recycling plant with capacity of 10 million tonnes per year to recover zinc and critical minerals, including germanium, from mining waste. According to CEO Amarendu Prakash, the plant should start operating in about two years. The investment amount has not been finalised, as the company is still evaluating processing technologies. Moody's reported these details.

Chief Financial Officer Amit Gupta said the company expects zinc cost of production to average $825–850 per tonne for the full year, below the earlier target of about $1,000 or slightly lower. Hindustan Zinc is keeping its production volume guidance and expects to reach targeted volumes in the second half of the financial year. The silver output target for the year is 680 tonnes.

why it matters

For zinc and silver markets, the key points are lower costs and expansion plans. The company projects a 2026 refined zinc deficit of about 180,000 tonnes, which supports demand for the metal. For Hindustan Zinc, lower production costs widen margins at current prices, while the waste-processing and mine expansion plans bear on long-term supply.

market impact

Zinc and silver: lower Hindustan Zinc costs and output plans shape metal supply outlook

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