Vedanta Limited has released encumbrance on 2,11,68,84,819 equity shares of Hindustan Zinc Limited , representing 50.10% of the total share capital, following the prepayment of a facility on June 17, 2026. The disclosure was submitted to BSE Limited and National Stock Exchange of India Limited under Regulation 31 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 2011. This release reduces the promoter's total encumbered holding to 55.04%, as other encumbrances remain active.

The release pertains to a facility agreement dated July 16, 2024, connected to undertakings provided by Vedanta Limited regarding the equity shares of Hindustan Zinc Limited. All encumbrances created pursuant to this specific facility agreement were fully released effective from the date of prepayment. The disclosure references the Securities and Exchange Board of India's Master circular dated February 16, 2023, bearing reference no. SEBI/HO/CFD/PoD-1/P/CIR/2023/31.

Shareholding Details

The equity share capital of Hindustan Zinc Limited remains at 4,22,53,19,000 equity shares of ₹2 each. The entity in whose favour the shares were previously encumbered was Victory XII Pte. Ltd., acting as the agent to the finance parties. The disclosure confirms that while the specific facility-related encumbrance of 50.10% has been released, other existing encumbrances by way of pledge and non-disposal undertaking continue to exist.

Hindustan Zinc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Advantek Associates LLP and Aero Eagle Automobiles Private Limited to explore the adoption of green hydrogen and alternative clean energy solutions across its operations. The collaboration aims to evaluate innovative technologies that can support the transition towards low-carbon and future-ready mining. Through this MoU, Hindustan Zinc is set to pioneer the use of hydrogen fuel for underground mining applications, positioning it to become the only company to deploy this technology in such environments.

Strategic Focus on Hydrogen

The agreement between Hindustan Zinc, Advantek Associates, and Aero Eagle Automobiles is aimed at investigating the viability and potential of hydrogen fuel options. Hydrogen has been gaining attention across industries as a cleaner energy alternative, and this collaboration positions Hindustan Zinc as an active participant in exploring such possibilities. The partnership will focus on conducting comprehensive feasibility assessments for hydrogen-based technologies, including green hydrogen generation, storage, dispensing infrastructure, and hydrogen-powered equipment. It will also evaluate the potential use of Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H2-ICE) and fuel cell technologies across mining and industrial applications.

Operational Scope and Feasibility

The initiative will follow a phased approach, beginning with technical, operational, safety, environmental, and financial feasibility studies. Based on the outcomes, the collaboration may be scaled further to enable broader deployment across mining equipment, heavy earth-moving machinery, underground and surface vehicles, generators, and other operational assets. The collaboration is part of Hindustan Zinc's larger strategy to build future-ready, low-carbon, and technology-led mining operations, aligned with its commitment to become Net Zero by 2050 or sooner.

Key Agreement Details

The table below summarises the key parameters of the MoU signed between the three parties: