Powering the Future: Hindustan Zinc Enters the Rare Earth Race

Hindustan Zinc Ltd. (HZL), a Vedanta Group company, is exploring entry into rare earth elements (REEs) as part of its strategic diversification to support India’s mineral security and reduce dependence on China-centric supply chains.

Speaking at the company’s 59th Annual General Meeting, Chairperson Priya Agarwal Hebbar announced that HZL is actively evaluating exploration opportunities in a range of critical minerals, including copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, potash, and REEs such as neodymium from monazite, along with antimony, graphite, and germanium.

“We have already floated international tenders for AI- and drone-enabled exploration, engaging expertise from countries including Australia, South Africa, Chile, and China,” she noted.

As part of the Government of India’s fifth tranche of mineral auctions—the first to include potash, tungsten, and REEs—HZL successfully secured a rare earth (monazite) block, marking its formal entry into this critical segment. Unlike the beach-sand monazite mined by Indian Rare Earths, the block acquired by HZL is a non-radioactive land-based deposit.

This strategic move signals a transformative phase for HZL, which has evolved from being India’s largest producer of zinc and silver into a multi-metal, future-focused enterprise. Rare earth elements are vital to the global supply chain for smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, defence systems, and advanced electronics, making them a cornerstone of next-generation technologies.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.