Vedanta to Pursue Global and Domestic Acquisitions, Partnerships for Critical Minerals Push.

Vedanta Ltd, the Anil Agarwal-promoted mining conglomerate, is embarking on an ambitious strategy to significantly bolster its critical minerals portfolio through a combination of strategic acquisitions both within India and internationally, alongside forging key global partnerships. The move underscores Vedanta's commitment to securing vital resources crucial for the rapidly accelerating energy transition and various high-tech industries.

Arun Misra, Executive Director of Vedanta Ltd, confirmed the company's intensified focus on critical minerals. He stated that the company is actively seeking inorganic growth opportunities, exploring potential targets in India and abroad. This expansion will also involve leveraging global partnerships and strategic alliances for specific projects, such as copper mines in Africa and the development of new mineral blocks. Misra revealed that several global majors have already expressed interest in collaborating on such ventures.

The strategic push into critical minerals aligns with India's growing demand for energy-efficient technologies, which heavily rely on these materials. Vedanta has already made strides in this area, recently securing four critical mineral blocks in India, including vanadium and graphite in Arunachal Pradesh, and cobalt and polymetallic (manganese and iron) in Karnataka. Its subsidiary, Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), also acquired tungsten blocks in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Looking ahead, Vedanta has outlined a substantial investment plan, committing $20 billion (approximately INR 1.67 lakh crore) over the next three years towards growth projects spanning its metals, mining, and hydrocarbon operations. These investments are largely focused on expanding existing facilities and enhancing capabilities to meet future demand. The company is also expanding its value-added products for zinc and aluminum, including a new zinc alloy plant and approved investments for smelter expansion and increased value-added product capacity in its aluminum business.

This strategic direction highlights Vedanta's intent to solidify its position as a key player in the global critical minerals landscape, driven by both domestic opportunities and international collaborations.