Udaipur : Hindustan Zinc Limited added 32 million tonnes of gross ore resources and reserves during the financial year 2025-26, strengthening its exploration programme. The company completed more than 464 kilometres of drilling during the year, with mineralisation found in more than 88 per cent of the drill holes.

The achievement comes alongside record production. Hindustan Zinc’s mined metal production reached an all-time high of 1.114 million tonnes in FY2025-26.

The company’s ore reserves increased by around 16 per cent during the year, rising to 219.1 million tonnes from 189.1 million tonnes in the previous year. Its total resources and reserves reached a record 468.6 million tonnes.

According to the company, the expanded resource base provides raw material availability for more than 25 years of mine life and supports its future expansion plans.

88.08% Drill Holes Show Mineralisation

Exploration plays an important role in the mining industry not only in replacing extracted ore but also in building additional reserves for future growth.

At the end of FY2025-26, the company’s metal reserves stood at 13.9 million tonnes, the highest level since it adopted underground mining.

Hindustan Zinc CEO Amarendu Prakash said a strong resource base is critical for the long-term success of any mining company.

He said that as Hindustan Zinc moves towards ‘Hindustan Zinc 2.0’, exploration is helping increase both the quantities extracted through mining and reserves while strengthening the future potential of its assets.

Prakash said adding 32 million tonnes of resources and reserves in a year of record production reflects the quality and long-term potential of the company’s mining assets. He added that the company would continue investing in technology-driven exploration to build a strong resource base for its next phase of growth.

The company’s exploration programme combines advanced geophysical and geochemical technologies, three-dimensional geological modelling and data-based analysis with extensive drilling.

During FY2025-26, mineralisation was found in 88.08 per cent of the drilled holes, which the company said reflects its exploration strategy.

Focus on Future Resource Growth

As part of its long-term growth strategy, Hindustan Zinc is focusing on faster exploration, converting resources into reserves and deeper exploration activities to increase its metal reserves.

The company is also evaluating the potential of other minerals present in its ore reserves apart from zinc, lead and silver. Its aim is to develop beyond a zinc-lead-silver producer and become a multi-metal company.

According to the company, the strategy will also contribute to increasing the domestic availability of critical metals for India’s manufacturing, infrastructure and energy transition sectors.

With one of the world’s largest zinc-lead resource bases, Hindustan Zinc’s exploration programme has become an important foundation for its future growth and capacity expansion.

Through its subsidiary Hindmetal Exploration Services, the company is also expanding exploration activities into new mineral areas beyond its existing zinc-lead-silver operations, with the aim of building a strong and diversified multi-metal portfolio.