Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal on Wednesday announced an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in Rajasthan to double the company’s production of zinc, lead, silver, oil and gas, as well as renewable energy, reported ANI.
Speaking at the first-ever Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas in Jaipur, where he received the “Pravasi Rajasthani Samman”—Agarwal highlighted Rajasthan’s potential to emerge as a major centre for minerals and natural resources, pointing to the state’s abundant reserves of oil, gas, and minerals.
During the event, Agarwal declared that Vedanta Group would double its output across key sectors through the significant investment. Emphasising Rajasthan’s role in India’s development journey, he said, “Rajasthan has abundant reserves of oil, gas, and minerals, giving it the potential to elevate India’s economy. Just as Punjab feeds the nation, Rajasthan has the capacity to supply the world with minerals and natural resources in the years ahead.”
The investment is expected to generate more than 2 lakh jobs and support the development of over 500 downstream industries.
Vedanta is also working to strengthen Rajasthan’s small- and medium-scale zinc manufacturing sector by establishing a Zinc Park. Agarwal said the Zinc International Industrial Park—designed to accommodate 200 new industries—will offer electricity, water, raw materials, and infrastructure, significantly boosting MSMEs and associated sectors. Additionally, the company is setting up North India’s first phosphate fertiliser plant in Rajasthan, a step aimed at advancing the vision of a “Green Rajasthan.”
Speaking to ANI, Agarwal reiterated Rajasthan’s immense potential, noting its suitability for industrial growth and renewable energy. “Rajasthan is going to be the most resourceful state,” he said.
The Rs 1 lakh crore investment will be directed toward doubling zinc production from 1.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 2 MTPA, increasing silver output from 800 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes, expanding oil and gas production to 3 lakh barrels per day, and creating 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity.
According to a company release, Vedanta has invested more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore in Rajasthan under Agarwal’s leadership, generating lakhs of jobs and contributing nearly Rs 3 lakh crore to national and state coffers over the past decade. Agarwal noted that after acquiring Hindustan Zinc, the company’s production has grown tenfold, making India a producer rather than an importer of silver.
He also expressed his personal connection to the state, saying, “Rajasthan has not only given me opportunities but has shaped my identity. Returning here always feels like coming home.” He added that Rajasthan has more than 40 types of world-class stones that can be finished and exported worldwide.
Agarwal’s ties to Rajasthan are both emotional and economic. Vedanta revived Hindustan Zinc, reopened several closed mines, and is establishing India’s first modern Zinc Park to support MSMEs.
Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma acknowledged Vedanta’s ongoing investments and the opportunities they bring to the state. He recalled Agarwal’s belief that young people can work with investments ranging from Rs 2 crore to Rs 100 crore, and said the government is enabling youth entrepreneurship. “Through skill development, small and large industries will create jobs for young people,” he said, encouraging them to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Vedanta, through Cairn, is India’s largest private oil producer, while its subsidiary Hindustan Zinc is the nation’s biggest producer of zinc, lead, and silver, primarily operating in Rajasthan. The Chief Minister added that the state’s single-window and self-certification systems ensure swift and transparent clearances for investors.
He also noted that women working underground at the Dariba mine have increased production by nearly 30 percent, and that India’s first women-led rescue team—formed in the region—has become a national model.
