Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL) announced on Saturday that it has received a composite licence from the Andhra Pradesh government to explore and mine a tungsten and associated mineral block in the state.
The approval marks a significant step for the Vedanta Group company as it expands beyond its core operations in zinc, lead, and silver into critical and high-value minerals essential for advanced manufacturing and strategic industries.
In a statement, the company said:
“Hindustan Zinc Ltd has been officially announced as the successful bidder for a tungsten and associated mineral block in Andhra Pradesh, following the receipt of the formal composite licence from the state government.”
A composite licence is a two-stage concession granting both exploration rights and, upon successful discovery, the right to undertake mining operations.
Earlier this year, HZL was declared the preferred bidder through a competitive auction process facilitated by the Central Government.
Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc, commented:
“This milestone marks another step forward in Hindustan Zinc’s journey of expanding its mineral footprint and contributing to the nation’s self-reliance in critical and strategic minerals.”
HZL remains the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and is among the top five global silver producers. The company supplies products to more than 40 countries and commands approximately 77% of India’s primary zinc market.