Vedanta sees overall Q1 growth in mining segments

PTI reported that Mr Anil Agarwal run Vedanta Resources Plc reported an increase in production of aluminium and zinc, copper, iron ore from its operations for the Q1 of 2009 to 2010 financial year. The company's aluminium production increased to 188,000 tonnes up 38.2% from the year ago period. In the year ago period, the metal and mining major produced 136,000 tonnes of aluminium. The company said in a statement that the increase was primarily due to the ramp up and phased commissioning of the Phase I of the 500 kilo tonne per annum at the Jharsuguda aluminium smelter in Orissa. It said that "We are in the process of starting the phased commissioning of the Phase II of 250 kilo tonne per annum for completion by end FY 2010. During Q1, we completely ramped down our BALCO Plant I aluminium smelter." The company said that its mined zinc metal production was up by 17.4% at 162,000 tonnes in the reporting quarter The company produced 138,000 million tonnes of the metal in the Q1 of the last fiscal. It attributed the increase in zinc output to the commissioning of the new concentrator at its Rampura Agucha mines in Rajasthan. It said that "Cathode production was lower than its rated capacity, primarily on account of low copper in concentrate." During Q1, Vedanta's African subsidiary KCM produced 43,000 tonnes of copper cathodes, significantly higher than the production of 36,000 tonnes in the year ago period. It added that "Production benefited from the ramp up of the new Nchanga smelter and a 55% increase in production from the tailings leach plant to 14,000 tonnes." (Sourced from Press Trust of India)