DECEMBER, 20259ANIL AGARWAL UNVEILS $20B VEDANTA INVESTMENT PLAN FOR INDIAVIKRAM SOLAR GREENLIGHTS 4,371 CRORE BESS MANUFACTURING CAPEXAnil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Ltd, has announced a $20 billion investment plan in India over the next four to five years, underlining the group's long-term leadership commitment to strengthening the country's industrial ecosystem.The $20 billion investment reflects Vedanta's confidence in India's growth trajectory and its own ability to scale operations across metals, energy, oil and gas, and steel.The announcement comes after the National Company Law Tribunal approved Vedanta's demerger plan, a key leadership-driven move that will create separate listed companies for aluminium, oil and gas, power, and iron and steel. Vedanta Ltd will continue to house Hindustan Zinc and incubate new businesses, a structure designed to sharpen strategic focus and unlock value across each vertical.Anil Agarwal said around $4 billion will be invested in oil and gas, with a similar amount allocated for a greenfield aluminium project. Another $2 billion is planned for zinc and silver, while additional capital will be deployed in iron ore, steel, and power assets. He noted that each business has "the potential to be gigantic" and is expected to deliver consistent dividends.From an industry standpoint, Vedanta plans to double its aluminium and zinc capacity, strengthening its leadership position in domestic metals production. Silver output is projected to increase nearly fourfold to about 3,000 tonnes, supporting both industrial and strategic demand.In energy and resources, the $20 billion investment includes a target of up to one million barrels per day of oil production and the development of 18,000 MW of power capacity through a mix of thermal and renewable sources. The group is also advancing plans for green steel, aligning industrial growth with sustainability goals and reinforcing Anil Agarwal's vision for India-led global scale. Vikram Solar has approved a major growth move as its board cleared a Vikram Solar BESS capex of about 4,371 crore for Phase 1 of its battery energy storage system business.The investment will be executed through its wholly owned subsidiary, VSL Powerhive, marking a focused entry into large-scale energy storage manufacturing.The capex supports Powerhive's long-term roadmap to develop 30 GWh of battery cell, module and pack, and BESS manufacturing capacity in phases. Under Phase 1, VSL Powerhive will commission a 5 GWh BESS manufacturing facility at Oragadam, Tamil Nadu, by FY27. The project is designed to address rising grid-scale storage demand as renewable energy capacity continues to expand across the country.In parallel, the company is advancing backward integration into battery cell manufacturing. Vikram Solar plans to set up a 7.5 GWh cell manufacturing facility that is expected to be fully operational by FY29, subject to receipt of applicable statutory and regulatory approvals. A dedicated research and development lab will be a core part of this initiative, focused on developing future-ready battery products and innovation-led solutions. The Vikram Solar BESS capex will be funded through a combination of debt and equity.Vikram Solar is among India's leading solar module manufacturers, with cumulative PV module production capacity of 4.5 GW and an international presence across 39 countries. The storage expansion comes amid a sharp improvement in financial performance. Consolidated net profit surged to 128.49 crore in the quarter ended September 2025, compared with 7.36 crore in the quarter ended September 2024. Sales jumped 93.72 percent year-on-year to 1,109.91 crore in Q2 FY26, reflecting stronger demand and improved scale.TOP STORIESDECEMBER, 20259
< Page 8 | Page 10 >