Vedanta Limited has secured a major win in the critical minerals sector by being declared the successful bidder for the Depo Graphite-Vanadium Block under Critical Mineral Auctions Tranche IV. The announcement comes as part of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India's ongoing initiative to auction critical mineral blocks to strengthen the country's mineral resource base.

Official Confirmation and Timeline

The company received official confirmation of its successful bid through a letter dated December 23, 2025, which was received on December 26, 2025, at 4:43 PM IST. The confirmation came after Vedanta fulfilled all required statutory compliances as mandated by the auction process.

Strategic Portfolio Enhancement

This successful acquisition represents a significant addition to Vedanta's critical minerals portfolio. The Depo Graphite-Vanadium Block will provide the company with access to two strategically important minerals that are essential for various industrial applications.

Graphite is a critical component in battery technology, particularly for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, while vanadium is primarily used in steel production to enhance strength and durability. The combination of these two minerals in a single block makes this acquisition particularly valuable for Vedanta's diversified mining operations.

Regulatory Compliance

The announcement was made through a formal disclosure under Regulation 30 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements Regulations, 2015. This regulatory filing demonstrates Vedanta's commitment to maintaining transparency with its stakeholders regarding material developments that could impact the company's business operations.

Market Position Strengthening

The successful bid for the Depo Graphite-Vanadium Block aligns with Vedanta's strategy to expand its presence in the critical minerals sector. As global demand for these minerals continues to grow, particularly driven by the transition to renewable energy and electric vehicles, this acquisition positions the company to capitalize on emerging market opportunities in the critical minerals space.

The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a conditional No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Vedanta Ltd.'s Cairn Oil & Gas Division for drilling onshore oil and gas wells in Krishna district. The approval marks a significant step forward for the company's exploration activities under the government's energy development initiatives.

Project Details and Scope

According to the recent Government Order, Vedanta's Cairn Oil & Gas Division was awarded development work for the Onshore Oil and Gas Field under the Discovered Small Field (DSF) Policy, 2018. The company had initially submitted a representation requesting NOC for drilling wells at 35 locations across various village limits within the block.

Government Conditions and Restrictions

The NOC comes with specific terms and conditions that Vedanta must adhere to during operations. The government emphasized that the certificate is issued purely from an irrigation perspective and is temporary in nature.

Key restrictions include:

• No water extraction from irrigation canal sources including Bandar Canal
• Prohibition on using KDS canal network, drainage network, ponds, or reservoirs
• Complete ban on drawing water from any surface-water sources
• Mandatory requirement to obtain all necessary permissions from concerned departments before commencing operations

Implementation and Oversight

The government order directs multiple authorities to oversee the implementation process. The Engineer-in-Chief (Irrigation) of the Water Resources Department in Vijayawada, the Chief Engineer of Krishna Delta System in Vijayawada, and the Collector of Krishna District have been tasked with taking necessary action accordingly.

Company Background

Cairn Oil & Gas, operating as a division of Vedanta, holds the position of India's largest private oil and gas exploration production company. The company currently contributes approximately 25.00% of the country's domestic crude production and has set an ambitious vision to increase this contribution to 50.00% through sustainable and responsible practices.