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Anil Agarwal's $10 bn LCD plant to start production in 2018

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Mar 20 2016 | 3:22 PM IST
Vedanta group chairman Anil Agarwal's USD 10-billion LCD screen plant, which is billed as the country's first, will start production in 2018.
"Panel FAB is expected to begin by 2018 with full production over the next 10 years subject to external environment," Agarwal told PTI in an interview.
This will be the largest investment made in setting up of an electronics plant in India.
It will be operated by Twinstar Display Technologies and will not fall under any of the Vedanta group companies' current business ambit.
"The proposed LCD manufacturing unit, the first of its kind in India, will be operated by Twinstar Display Technologies. It is promoted by Volcan Investments Ltd, whose other investments include Vedanta Resources and Sterlite Technologies," he said.
Agarwal along with his family holds majority stake in Volcan Investments. The company clarified that the LCD plant is Agarwal's personal investment and not part of his Vedanta group.

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"We endeavour to make India a significant export hub of display units with the setting up of Panel FAB," he said.
At present, all LCD displays used in mobile phones, TV screens and computers are imported.
"India is one of the fastest growing markets for LCD panel based products such as TV, smartphones, tablets, desktops and laptops.
"By 2020, India's LCD panel import bill is expected to touch USD 10 billion (about Rs 68,000). Panel FAB will not only significantly reduce this but also earn foreign exchange through exports," Agarwal said.
Vedanta had made commitment to set-up LCD plant at the first Digital India week inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July last year.
"We have made good of the promise we made to the nation during Digital India. We are happy to participate in two of the government's key initiatives - the 'Make in India' campaign as well as 'Net Zero Electronics import by 2020'," Agarwal said.
At the event, industry had committed to invest Rs 4.5 lakh crore with a potential to generate 18 lakh jobs.
Agarwal-promoted LCD firm had signed an agreement with Maharashtra government for the plant.
About zinc, Vedanta Resources said its mined metal
production was 2,76,000 tonnes, 21 per cent higher compared to Q3 FY2016 and 44 per cent higher sequentially.
The sequential increase was on account of higher volumes from Rampura Agucha open cast mine in accordance with mine plan and the y-o-y increase was driven by higher volumes from Rampura Agucha underground as well as open cast mines.
"We are on track to achieve stated guidance of higher mined metal production in FY2017 compared to FY2016," it said.
The company said integrated zinc metal production during the quarter was at 2,05,000 tonnes, up 38 per cent from the previous quarter, and flat y-o-y on account of accretion of mined metal inventory.
Integrated saleable lead production during the quarter was 39,000 tonnes, up 26 per cent sequentially and 10 per cent y-o-y. The y-o-y increase was in line with mined metal production, while the sequential increase was on account of enhanced smelter efficiencies.
The company said integrated silver production during the quarter increased by 10 per cent to 3.79 million ounces from previous quarter and 2 per cent y-o-y.
In line with the on-going expansion to reach 1.2 mtpa mined metal production capacity, environmental clearances were received for Sindesar Khurd expansion of ore production capacity from 3.75 mtpa to 4.5 mtpa and for Zawar mine to 4 mtpa.
The cost of production excluding royalty was higher at USD 861 per tonne compared to USD 796 per tonne in Q3 FY2016 and USD 809 per tonne in Q2 FY2017. The increase was
It said the increase was primarily on account of additional excavation at Rampura Agucha underground, change in global waste to ore ratio, higher mine development, input commodity inflation (primarily coal and met coke), and lower by-product credits driven by lower sulphuric acid prices, which were partially offset by higher volumes, better average grades and cost optimisation initiatives in procurement and commercial functions.
About oil and gas it said for Q3 FY2017, average gross production across assets was lower at 1,81,818 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), primarily due to planned maintenance shutdown in Rajasthan and natural decline in offshore assets.
Gross production from the Rajasthan block averaged 1,54,272 boepd for the quarter, lower mainly due to the planned maintenance shutdown at the Mangala Processing Terminal which will help maintain asset integrity and improve the plant performance.
"We had encouraging results from the Mangala Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), driven by enhanced well productivity and production optimization activities. The production from EOR increased to an average of 55 kboepd in Q3 FY2017 from 52 kboepd in Q2 FY2017," it said.
Continued reservoir management including production optimisation helped maintain steady production from Bhagyam and Aishwariya. Gross production from Development Area-1 (DA-1) and Development Area-2 (DA-2) averaged 141,177 boepd and 13,095 boepd, respectively.

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First Published: Mar 20 2016 | 3:22 PM IST

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