Hindustan Zinc Limited, a Vedanta Group company and the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, has awarded engineering and construction contracts to CIMIC Group companies Sedgman and Leighton Asia for the development of India’s first zinc tailings recycling facility. The project will be located at the company’s Rampura Agucha Mines in Rajasthan.
Tailings—finely ground material left after mineral extraction—often contain recoverable metals that earlier technologies could not extract. The new facility at Rampura Agucha will use advanced processing methods to recover zinc, silver, and other valuable metals from legacy tailings, converting waste into usable resources and reinforcing a circular mining model.
The project represents a significant national milestone, aligned with India’s priorities around resource efficiency, circular economy adoption, and strengthening domestic supplies of critical minerals. By reprocessing tailings, the initiative will reduce environmental impact, improve land use, and enhance long-term resource security.
Arun Misra, CEO of Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “Future industrial growth will depend on how efficiently we use existing resources. This project signals a shift from linear extraction to value optimisation. By establishing India’s first zinc tailings recycling facility at scale, we are creating a model for re-engineering legacy resources into future supply, while strengthening the country’s critical minerals ecosystem.”
The development follows the Board’s approval in August of an investment of up to ₹3,823 crore for a 10 million tonnes per annum zinc tailings recycling facility, targeted for completion within 28 months. Following this approval, contracts have now been awarded to CIMIC Group companies for engineering, procurement, and construction.
Under the scope of work, Sedgman will deliver detailed engineering and offshore equipment procurement, while Leighton Asia will oversee onshore procurement and construction activities. The collaboration combines global technical expertise with strong local execution capabilities.
Juan Santamaría, Executive Chairman of CIMIC Group and CEO of ACS Group and HOCHTIEF, said,
“This project demonstrates Sedgman’s strength in minerals processing and Leighton Asia’s proven delivery capability. It reflects CIMIC Group’s commitment to supporting the energy transition through responsible development of critical minerals.”
Grant Fraser, Managing Director of Sedgman, said, “Our experience in tailings reprocessing allows us to help unlock value from historical waste streams. This project supports more sustainable mineral production while contributing to the clean energy transition.” Brad Davey, Managing Director of Leighton Asia, added, “By combining international expertise with local knowledge, we are pleased to partner on a project that strengthens India’s mining infrastructure, supports regional development, and creates local employment opportunities.”
Headquartered in Udaipur, Hindustan Zinc operates zinc, lead, and silver mines and smelters across Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The company has approved phased investments to double production capacity, including expanding refined metal output by 250 KTPA and upgrading mining and milling infrastructure, with planned investments of nearly ₹12,000 crore. These expansions align with India’s projected growth in zinc demand over the next decade.
Hindustan Zinc has been recognised for its leadership in sustainability, tailings management, decarbonisation, and circular economy initiatives. The company was ranked the world’s most sustainable metals and mining company by the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2025 for the third consecutive year and became India’s first member of the International Council on Mining and Metals.
Hindustan Zinc Limited is the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and among the top five silver producers globally. Supplying to over 40 countries, the company holds approximately 77% of India’s primary zinc market. Hindustan Zinc is committed to sustainability, clean energy, and responsible mining practices, with a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier.
CIMIC Group is a global engineering and construction services provider with operations across infrastructure, resources, and asset management. With a workforce of around 39,000 people, the group delivers sustainable solutions across the full project lifecycle in approximately 20 countries.
