September 4, 2025

Hold on to your hats, mining lovers! Hindustan Zinc, India’s top player in zinc, lead, and silver, is cooking up a stunning plan to expand its treasure chest of minerals by 2030. The company wants to add at least three to four new metals, including super-important critical minerals like neodymium, tungsten, and potash. CEO Arun Misra shared the big news at the company’s annual meeting. He explained that these minerals aren’t easy to find — "either too deep into the earth or their occurrence is in traces." But Hindustan Zinc is no stranger to tough digging. They’re experts at mining below one kilometre and working with tricky minerals that appear in tiny quantities but pack a high punch! The company has already bagged blocks for potash, tungsten, and other rare earth elements. It’s also proud to be the only Indian firm holding a rare monzonite block — a key material for making neodymium. And why does neodymium matter? It’s used to build electromagnets that power electric vehicle motors, while tungsten is critical for defense applications. Of course, good old zinc remains their bread and butter, mainly used for galvanising metals. Misra painted a clear roadmap: "We expect two years for exploration of these critical minerals and another two years to set up plants for mining and smelting." With this timeline, Hindustan Zinc is charging full steam ahead. The company’s ambitions don't stop here. Last year, Misra told ET they’re keen to explore gold, platinum, lithium, and graphite too. To power this vision, Hindustan Zinc has created a special subsidiary called Hindmetal Exploration Services dedicated to the hunt for these precious, tricky minerals. This major move aligns perfectly with the National Critical Minerals Mission launched in April 2023, which aims to make India self-reliant in critical minerals. The Geological Survey of India is busy with 1,200 exploration projects planned until fiscal 2031. Other government mining champions like Coal India, Hindustan Copper, and NMDC have also jumped on this critical minerals bandwagon. So, get ready for a sparkling new era in Indian mining where rare minerals like neodymium and tungsten will shine bright, thanks to Hindustan Zinc’s bold new adventure!

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Tags: Hindustan zinc, Critical minerals, Neodymium, Tungsten, Potash, Mining,