Vedanta Resources Plc unit Hindustan Zinc Ltd. was granted environment clearance for a 7.4 billion-Indian-rupee expansion project at its Rajasthan, India-based lead-zinc production facility, as well as the Sindesar Khurd underground zinc-lead-silver mine, India Today reported Dec. 28, citing a senior government official.

The company plans to increase lead-zinc production capacity to 4.5 million tonnes per annum from 2 Mtpa, while ore beneficiation capacity at the underground mine will be enhanced to 5 Mtpa from 2 Mtpa.

The Indian group was granted approval in January 2016 to increase lead-zinc output capacity to 3.75 Mtpa and to 4.25 Mtpa for ore beneficiation, but later in September, the company applied for an amendment to further expand production capacity at the two locations to 4.5 Mtpa and 5 Mtpa, respectively.

The company will restrict the expansion project to its existing 148.84-hectare area of the facility.

As of Dec. 27, US$1 was equivalent to 68.01 Indian rupees.