Vedanta Resources has set itself the target of becoming the world’s biggest zinc producer within the next ten years.According to CEO Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, it is not only targeting the zinc portfolio, but a range of minerals including iron ore, aluminium and silver. The company has a footprint in India, South Africa, Namibia and Australia, mining a range of commodities that include steel, iron ore, aluminium, chrome, copper, lead, zinc, oil and gas.“These are commodities that the world will need for decades to come and we are investing heavily in our production sites around the world as we target more growth.”Venkatakrishnan said over the next two to three years Vedanta would invest $9 billion across its businesses to grow its revenue by 30%-40%.“This will see Hindustan Zinc, which currently produces around a million tons of zinc per year, increase production to 1.3 million tons per annum and after that to 1.5 million tons,” he said. “Our zinc operation in the Northern Cape at the Gamsberg mine will reach its full potential of 250 000 tons per year and with the next phase of the expansion it will rise to 450 000 tons per year.”
