New Delhi, August 24: Vedanta Limited, a leading global producer of metals, critical minerals and technology, that powers the industries of today and is incubating the industries of tomorrow, has reinforced its commitment to technology-led innovation by commissioning India’s first-ever high-tech, high-speed hydrostatic portable rig equipped with advanced safety features. The rigs have been deployed at two of Vedanta‘s flagship exploration projects in Chhattisgarh dedicated to gold and exploration of critical minerals such as nickel, chromium and platinum group elements.
Critical mineral exploration demands exceptional technical expertise and deep-shaft mining capabilities, a high-barrier domain where Vedanta stands out among a select few national and global players. As the energy transition accelerates, Vedanta is uniquely positioned to bridge the critical mineral deficit by leveraging its integrated smelting infrastructure and advanced geological tech to unlock complex blocks.
Purpose-built for inaccessible and tough terrains, this rig can carry out high-speed drilling up to 1,000 metres compared to the typical 300–400 metre range, without losing precious time in inter-location movement — a first for exploration capability in the country. The deployment marks a significant leap in Vedanta‘s exploration infrastructure, enabling faster, safer, minimally intrusive and more efficient access to India’s largely untapped mineral reserves.
Vedanta has placed itself at the forefront of India’s critical minerals push, being the only company to have secured 10 critical mineral blocks across gold, manganese, copper, nickel-chromium-PGE (Platinum Group of Elements) tungsten, graphite, vanadium, rare earth elements and potash, with exploration already underway across five blocks. Recently, Vedanta has also been declared the Successful Bidder for the Punnam Manganese Block in Andhra Pradesh.
India’s Untapped Mineral Potential
The government estimates suggest close to 80% of India’s mineral resources remain unexplored. Gold is vital for medical applications, high-reliability electronics and other strategic industries, while critical minerals such as copper and nickel underpin AI infrastructure and data centres, renewable energy, electric mobility, defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing. India’s task is to move beyond extraction alone and build capability across exploration, mining, processing, refining, recycling and manufacturing. The opportunity is simple: India’s resource advantage will be won not by what lies beneath the ground, but by how much value it builds above it.
According to the International Energy Agency, global critical mineral demand for clean energy technologies is projected to nearly triple by 2030 under its Net Zero Emissions Scenario, and quadruple by 2040, reaching close to 40 million tonnes annually. This has accelerated efforts by countries to diversify critical mineral supply chains away from dependence on any single country or source, positioning India as a natural partner in the shift. India holds substantial reserves of rare earth elements and critical minerals, giving it strong potential to become a key player in global supply chains though the country remains largely import-dependent despite this geological potential.
Vedanta 2.0 – Transformation through Technology
Vedanta 2.0 represents the group’s vision to build a technology-driven, future-facing conglomerate centred on sustainable growth. While strengthening its core businesses, the group is simultaneously expanding into critical minerals as part of the clean-energy value chain, having secured several new mineral blocks and stepped-up exploration activity.
Vedanta Group holds a differentiated position as one of the few Indian companies with mineral assets spread across India, South Africa, Namibia, Liberia and Zambia, giving it access to diverse, high-potential reserves. The company plans to expand into new geographies with stable regulatory environments, deepen value-added processing within India, and build mining partnerships aligned with global environmental, social and governance standards.