Metals & Mining

Indian metal companies focused on domestic demand, resilient to Trump tariffs
Indian metal companies like Vedanta, JSW Steel, and Hindustan Zinc are planning major expansions to meet growing domestic demand. Vedanta is boosting aluminium production, Hindustan Zinc aims to double output, and JSW Steel plans significant investments. Industry experts foresee strong growth due to India's infrastructure push and reduced global competition because of tariffs.

Vedanta Q4 mined metal, aluminium, iron ore, saleable steel production rises; oil & gas output drops
Vedanta reported growth in production of aluminum by 1 per cent and mined metal by 4 per cent in Q4 FY25. Copper cathode production increased by 41 per cent, and iron ore output rose 22 per cent. However, oil and gas production saw an 18 per cent decline.

Vedanta reports record aluminium and zinc production in Q4 and FY25
Vedanta Ltd reported record production figures for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Significant increases were seen in aluminium, zinc, iron ore, steel, oil and gas, and power sales. Annual aluminium production grew by 2%, while zinc production saw similar gains. Copper India's output rose 41% in Q4, contributing to an overall 6% annual rise.

Vedanta looking to partner global EPC company
Vedanta is seeking a global EPC partner for its upcoming brownfield expansion projects in zinc, aluminium, copper, power, and oil and gas across various businesses over the next three years. As the company prepares for its demerger into five units, it aims to unlock shareholder value and enable independent growth.

Indian conglomerate Vedanta seeks global partner for $20 billion expansion plan
Vedanta is seeking a global partner for its $20 billion expansion across zinc, aluminium, copper, and other sectors. The conglomerate plans significant investments, including $2-$2.5 billion for Hindustan Zinc and $5 billion for Cairn India to boost oil output. Additionally, Vedanta aims to double its power business and expand into nuclear energy and power distribution.

Coal India to hike price by Rs 10 to Rs 20 from April 16, 2025
From April 16, 2025, Coal India will increase the price of non-coking coal to Rs 20 per ton. India's coal imports rose slightly in January, with total coal imports holding steady for the FY25 April-January period. Domestic coal production saw a 5.88% increase, reaching 830.66 million tonnes.

Adani’s Kutch Copper to begin smelter ops soon
Adani Group's Kutch Copper is set to start its smelter operations soon and plans to expand capacity, reducing India's copper imports significantly. The initial 500,000-tonne unit will stabilize in the next few quarters before expanding to a million tonnes with an investment of $700-800 million. The smelter will source copper concentrate from Latin America, Australia, and Africa.

Vedanta saves Rs 1,027 cr by retiring costly debt with cheaper loans
Vedanta has realized significant savings in interest payments by refinancing high-interest loans with lower-cost debt, reducing its debt drastically. Vedanta aims to further cut its cost of capital, bolstering financial flexibility and supporting ongoing capital expenditures and debt repayment.

Iron ore production rises 4% to 263 MT in Apr-Feb
Coupled with growth in aluminium and copper, these growth trends point towards continued strong economic activity in user sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, automotive and machinery, the statement said.

Copper demand to grow 7 pc in India propelled by clean energy projects: PHDCCI
Copper demand in India is projected to rise by about 7% due to increased consumption in renewable energy and infrastructure development. With major investments from companies like JSW, Aditya Birla, and Adani, production is set to increase, potentially reducing dependency on imports and supporting the domestic economy.
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India's coal import rises marginally in January
Coal imports in the country increased slightly by 1.23% to 21.37 million tonnes in January. Total imports for April-January FY25 were nearly flat at 222.67 million tonnes. Despite lower non-coking and coking coal imports due to ample domestic stock, overall coal production rose by 5.88% during the period.

Working with states for speedy nods to mine operators: Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy
The Centre is collaborating with state governments to simplify coal mine approvals, emphasizing the importance of both auctions and quick operationalisation. Launching the 12th commercial coal auction with 25 blocks, the minister highlighted the need for private sector participation and faster project execution while ensuring full government support. He stressed on sustainability targets and coal gasification goals for 2030.

Round 12 of coal mine auction begins today
The coal ministry is set to launch the 12th round of commercial coal mine auctions, offering 25 blocks, on Thursday. This initiative aims to boost domestic coal production and reduce imports, thereby enhancing long-term energy security. Additionally, three partially explored mines are being offered under the second attempt of round 11.

Coal India incorporates subsidiary to set up coal-to-synthetic natural gas biz
Coal India Limited (CIL) has launched Coal Gas India Ltd, a subsidiary focused on converting coal to synthetic natural gas (SNG). This initiative, in collaboration with GAIL, aims to boost the SNG business by establishing necessary plants, coal mining operations, and infrastructure for synthetic gas production.

JSPL, Jindal Power, others bag mines in 11th round of commercial auction
Ten companies, including Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, have secured coal blocks in the 11th round of commercial mines auction. The auctions featured 12 coal mines, achieving a 36.27% average revenue share and expected to generate an annual revenue of Rs 3,330 crore and create 20,902 jobs, reflecting strong industry interest in India's coal sector.

'Gold is going to shine': Anil Agarwal sees a great opportunity to boost homegrown production
Anil Agarwal, Vedanta chairman, predicts gold prices to continue rallying beyond $3,000 per ounce due to global economic uncertainty. He urges India to boost domestic gold mining to reduce reliance on imports, noting potential investor interest and feasible shorter project timelines amidst soaring prices.