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The present smelting capacities for primary zinc and primary lead metals in the country are 2,60,000 tonnes and 36,000 tonnes per annum respectively. Out of this, Hindustan Zinc Limited has annual production capacity of 2,30,000 tonnes zinc and 36,000 tonnes lead. Binani Industries Limited has the capacity to produce 30,000 tonnes of zinc per year. This information is given in the 2005-06 Performance Budget of the Ministry of Mines.
Besides primary production, both zinc and lead metals are also produced through secondary routes from scrap, dross and residue. Most of the secondary lead production units are in the unorganised sector. Secondary zinc production during 2004-05 is estimated at 65,000 tonnes and secondary lead production at 40,000 tonnes.
The total production of lead in the world was 6.734 million tonnes during the year 2004, of which the share of India was 0.086 million tonnes. The largest producer of lead from lead mines is China followed by Australia, United States, Peru and Mexico. Total production of zinc in the world was 9.577 million tonnes during the year 2004, of which the share of India was 0.341 million tonnes. The largest producer of zinc from zinc mines is China followed by Australia, Peru, Canada and United States.
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