Vedanta Resources' refined zinc output rises 40% in India

Global diversified natural resources company Vedanta Resources on Tuesday said refined zinc output at its India unit increased by 40 per cent in the fourth quarter to 2,15,000 tonnes due to higher production in Rajasthan mines.

"Refined zinc metal production during the quarter was 2,15,000 tonnes, 40 per cent higher y-o-y and five per cent higher q-o-q," the company said in a statement.

Total integrated zinc-lead metal production was at an all-time high of 2,60,000 tonnes in line with the mined metal, the statement said.

"We achieved record production of 3,12,000 tonnes of mined metal in Q4, 66 per cent higher y-o-y and 13 per cent higher q-o-q.

The increase was primarily on account of higher production from the Rampura Agucha open cast mine in line with the mine plan, wherein production in H2 was higher than H1 FY2017," it said.

Tom Albanese, Chief Executive Officer, Vedanta Resources plc, said, "In line with our strategic priority to ramp up production at our zinc, aluminium, power and iron ore businesses, I am happy to say that we have achieved strong results on this front during the year.

Elaborating further on Zinc India, the company said that integrated lead production during the fourth quarter was a record at 45,000 tonnes, 18 per cent higher y-o-y and 15 per cent higher q-o-q. The increase was in line with availability of mined metal, supported by enhanced smelter efficiencies.

During the quarter, production at our Goa operation was 3.7 million tonnes and sales were 2.3 million tonnes.