Anil Agarwal Foresees $1 Trillion Investment Boom in India’s Mineral and Energy Sectors
Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Group, predicts that the import of minerals, metals, and energy will triple from the current $350 billion as India’s economy accelerates. This surge presents a potential $1 trillion investment opportunity in these sectors.
Addressing shareholders at Vedanta’s annual general meeting, Agarwal highlighted that currently, 50% of India’s imports, valued at over $350 billion, consist of minerals and metals, including oil and gas. As the economy grows rapidly, these imports are expected to double and even triple, opening up substantial investment avenues.
Agarwal emphasized that around 70% of Vedanta’s revenue comes from critical minerals of the future, the highest proportion among its peers.
While public discourse often focuses on lithium, cobalt, and nickel, he noted that copper, aluminum, zinc, and silver are equally essential to emerging sectors of the new economy.
Vedanta is in the process of splitting its business into six distinct entities, each to be listed separately on the stock exchange. “We are proceeding with the demerger, which will create six strong companies and unlock massive value,” Agarwal stated. Each demerged entity will operate independently but adhere to Vedanta’s core values.
Vedanta has invested over $35 billion in India and contributes approximately 1.4% of the country’s GDP. The group remains committed to growth, with plans to focus on the new 1.5-mtpa alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, operationalize the Bicholim mine in Goa, and commence production at the Jaya oilfield in Gujarat this year.
Additionally, the acquisition of Athena and Meenakshi Power Plants in the last fiscal year will double Vedanta’s merchant power capacity to 5 GW, Agarwal added.
