CIMIC Group Secures A$400M Zinc Recycling Landmark in India
CIMIC Group, through its specialized subsidiaries Sedgman and Leighton Asia, has officially entered a major partnership with Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) to deliver India’s first-ever zinc tailings recycling facility. Located at the Rampura Agucha Mines (RAM) in Rajasthan, the project represents a significant leap forward in sustainable mining practices and circular economy initiatives within the critical minerals sector.
The dual-contract agreement is expected to generate approximately A$400 million in revenue for CIMIC, underscoring the Group’s expanding footprint in the global energy transition.
A Strategic Alliance for Critical Minerals
Hindustan Zinc Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, stands as the world’s largest integrated zinc producer and ranks among the top five silver producers globally. By selecting CIMIC Group for this milestone project, HZL is leaning into advanced engineering to maximize resource efficiency.
The new facility at Rampura Agucha—one of the world’s largest underground zinc-lead mines—is designed to reprocess tailings (mining waste). This process allows for the recovery of valuable minerals that were previously inaccessible, turning environmental liabilities into economic and strategic assets.
Synergistic Delivery: Sedgman and Leighton Asia
The project utilizes a collaborative “One CIMIC” approach, leveraging the distinct strengths of two industry leaders:
- Sedgman (Engineering & Procurement): With over 45 years of experience and a portfolio of 630+ global projects, Sedgman will lead the technical charge. Under an offshore contract, they are responsible for the detailed engineering services and the procurement of specialized offshore equipment. Their expertise is well-proven, having completed 20 zinc-related projects in the last decade alone.
- Leighton Asia (Construction & Onshore Management): Acting as the boots on the ground, Leighton Asia will manage the physical construction and onshore procurement. As a veteran infrastructure partner in India, Leighton Asia’s local knowledge and delivery capabilities ensure the complex engineering designs are realized safely and efficiently.
Driving the Global Energy Transition
The move toward clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure relies heavily on the steady supply of critical minerals like zinc. Zinc plays a pivotal role in galvanizing steel for wind turbines, solar farms, and transmission towers—protecting infrastructure from corrosion for decades—while also emerging as a key component in next-generation battery storage technologies.
Juan Santamaría, CEO of ACS Group and HOCHTIEF, and Executive Chairman of CIMIC Group, emphasized the broader impact of the deal:
“This project highlights Sedgman’s leadership in minerals processing and Leighton Asia’s proven capability in infrastructure delivery. Modern tailings reprocessing unlocks new opportunities to recover essential minerals that power clean energy technologies and digital infrastructure.”
By focusing on “modern tailings reprocessing,” CIMIC is positioning itself at the forefront of the circular economy. Rather than relying solely on new excavations, the Group is helping clients extract more value from existing waste streams, reducing the environmental footprint of mining operations. This approach not only conserves natural resources but also mitigates legacy site risks and lowers carbon emissions associated with primary extraction. As global demand for responsibly sourced minerals grows, CIMIC’s integrated capabilities offer a scalable pathway to secure critical materials while advancing sustainability targets across the energy and infrastructure sectors.
A Commitment to Sustainability
For Sedgman, this project is a natural extension of their “end-to-end” solution philosophy. Managing Director Grant Fraser noted that the facility is a prime example of how technical innovation can align with environmental stewardship.
“Our technical expertise allows us to deliver solutions that unlock value for clients like Hindustan Zinc while supporting a transition towards more sustainable minerals extraction,” Fraser stated. By recovering minerals from waste, the project helps HZL meet its sustainability targets while bolstering India’s domestic supply of critical materials.
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