Vedanta zinc production South Africa falls, whilst in India ups

India’s multinational mining giant Vedanta, one of the world’s leading oil & gas and metals companies, has reported its production results for fiscal Q3 FY2022 (calendar Q4 2021) and nine months ended December 31, 2021.

Vedanta said that in Q3 FY2022, its integrated zinc production in India was 214,000 tonnes, up 17% as compared to Q3 FY2021 and 32% as compared to Q2 FY2022. The company’s integrated lead production in India was 47,000 tonnes for Q3 FY2022, down 10% as compared to Q3 FY2021 on account of changing mode of pyro plant operations from lead mode to zinc-lead mode.

Moreover, the company’s integrated saleable silver production in India was 173 MT, down 5% as compared to Q3 FY2021, in line with lower lead production, and up 14% as compared to Q2 FY2022 due to depletion of WIP.

Vedanta added that in South Africa, its total zinc production for Q3 FY2022 was 52,000 tonnes, 11% lower compared to Q3 FY2021 and 4% lower compared to Q2 FY2022.

Black Mountain produced 11,000 tonnes in Q3 FY2022, 28% lower than Q3 FY2021 due to lower throughput, recovery and lower grades, and 30% lower as compared to Q2 FY2022 due to lower throughput and grades partly offset by higher zinc recoveries.

Gamsberg zinc production was 41,000 tonnes in Q3 FY2022, 5% lower as compared to Q3 FY2021 due to lower zinc recovery, and 6% higher as compared to Q2 FY2022 due to higher throughput and higher zinc recovery. Notably, the company said that Skorpion remained under care and maintenance in Q3 FY2022 following multiple slope failures and geotechnical instabilities in FY2020.