Kamal Ghorui
Mining conglomerate Vedanta Ltd on Wednesday reported an 89 per cent jump in consolidated profit after tax to Rs 9,352 crore for the quarter ended March 2026, helped by higher sales volumes, rising global metal prices and gains from a weaker rupee.The Anil Agarwal-led company had posted a consolidated profit after tax of Rs 4,961 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, according to PTI.Revenue from operations in the March quarter rose 29 per cent to Rs 51,524 crore from Rs 39,789 crore a year ago.“4QFY26 consolidated revenue at Rs 51,524 crore, up 29 per cent YoY & 12 per cent QoQ driven by higher LME, volumes, premium, and forex gain,” Vedanta said in a statement.Total expenses during the reporting quarter increased to Rs 19,119 crore from Rs 13,702 crore in the year-ago period.Vedanta Executive Director Arun Misra said FY26 was a year of strong execution with record operational performance across businesses.“We delivered 2.9 million tonnes of alumina, 2.46 million tonnes of aluminium, 1.1 million tonnes of mined metal at Zinc India… reflecting improved operating efficiency alongside the ramp up of new capacities,” he said.During the year, the company deployed Rs 14,918 crore as growth capital expenditure and commissioned projects including the new BALCO smelter, downstream expansions at Jharsuguda, the Debari roaster at Zinc India and 1.3 GW of power capacity.“Our continued focus on operational excellence resulted in lowest costs in last five years at aluminium and zinc business,” Misra said.Vedanta’s gross debt as of March 31, 2026 stood at Rs 81,740 crore, while net debt was Rs 53,254 crore.“The quarter marks a defining point for Vedanta, with the delivery of our strongest-ever financial performance recording all-time highs in revenue, EBITDA, and PAT for both the quarter and the full year and a clear positioning for the next phase of growth with demerger effective from 1st of May ’26,” Vedanta CFO Ajay Goel said.The company had earlier approved May 1, 2026 as the effective date for the demerger of its aluminium, merchant power, oil and gas, and iron ore businesses into separate listed entities.Vedanta said the restructuring would simplify the corporate structure, create sector-focused independent businesses and offer direct investment opportunities to global, sovereign, retail and strategic investors.As part of the demerger, the company plans to separately list Vedanta Aluminium Metal Limited, Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd, Malco Energy Ltd and Vedanta Iron and Steel Limited.
