Hindustan Zinc and Sterlite Industries have registered a record metal production of 231,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter of this fiscal, up 19 per cent largely due to higher contributions from Rampura Agucha and Sindesar Khurd mines.

Refined Zinc production in Q4 was up 29 per cent at 194,000 tonnes and it was up 23 per cent at 712,000 tonnes in FY'11. The new 210,000 tpa Rajpura Dariba smelter, which was commissioned in March last year, contributed 46,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter.

Lead production was 10 per cent lower at 18,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter and was down 13 per cent at 63,000 tonnes for the fiscal. Sale of surplus zinc and lead concentrate was 30,000 and 18,000 dry metric tonnes in the fourth quarter.

Silver production was 50,000 kg in Q4 while for this fiscal it was marginally higher at 179,000 kg.

Commissioning of the 100,000 tpa lead smelter at Dariba is expected to be completed in Q1 FY'12, which will increase lead and silver production, said the company.

Of the 150 MW wind power expansion announced in January, 48 MW was commissioned in Q4 and the remaining is expected to be commissioned in FY'12. Post expansion, the company's wind power generation capacity will increase to 273 MW. With the commissioning of second 80-MW plant in February, captive power production at Dariba has been enhanced to 160 MW.

ZINC OUTPUT ABROAD

The acquisition of Skorpion Zinc, Namibia, was completed in December 2010. The acquisitions of Black Mountain Mines, South Africa, and Lisheen Mines, Ireland, were completed in February 2011.

For the full year, mined zinc-lead production at Lisheen and Black Mountain was 282,000 tonnes and refined zinc production at Skorpion Zinc was 152,000 tonnes. Production for the year post acquisition by Vedanta was 44,000 tonnes of mined zinc and lead metal, and 50,000 tonnes of refined zinc metal.

COPPER AND ALUMINIUM

Copper cathode production at the Tuticorin smelter was almost flat 80,000 tonnes in Q4 while the annual copper cathode output was down 9 per cent at 304,000 tonnes due to 22-day planned bi-annual shutdown in June-July and shutdown following the High Court order in September.

The company's petition challenging the High Court order is being heard by the Supreme Court, and the unit is currently operational at its full capacity. Mined metal production in Australian mines was 5,000 tonnes in Q4.

Aluminium production was down 3 per cent at 62,000 tonnes in the fourth quarter.

Construction at the 1,200-MW captive power plant at Balco is expected to be synchronized in Q1 FY'12.

ENERGY

Power sales were 1,048 million units (406 million units) in Q4. The operation of two 600-MW units of the Jharsuguda 2,400-MW IPP contributed to the increase. The remaining two units of the Jharsuguda are expected to be synchronized in Q2 and Q3 of this fiscal. Transmission lines are being set up to enhance existing evacuation facilities of 1,050 MW. The additional transmission capacity is expected to be completed by Q3 FY'12.

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