Hindustan Zinc chairperson Priya Agarwal Hebbar has called for a broader definition of mining, with the industry’s role extending beyond extracting and processing minerals to building industrial ecosystems around the resources it produces.In her Q1 FY27 letter to shareholders, she outlined a vision in which mining companies will increasingly be defined not only by the resources they own, but by the capabilities, industries, partnerships and innovations they build around them.“Mining has always created value from the resources beneath the ground. Increasingly, it must also create value through the industries, partnerships and innovations that grow around those resources,” she said.The company’s Zinc Parks initiative seeks to strengthen downstream manufacturing, support MSMEs and expand the applications of zinc.“India’s next phase of growth will require a broader and more resilient critical minerals ecosystem. Our entry into rare earth elements marks an important step in building those capabilities,” she said.The Chairperson indicated that the basis of leadership in the mining sector is also changing, with capabilities built around resources becoming increasingly important.“The opportunities ahead are significant. As demand for critical minerals accelerates, the companies that lead this industry will be defined not only by the quality of their resources, but by the capabilities they build around them,” she said.Published on July 29, 2026