Sarda Energy & Minerals Ltd
Q2 FY25 Earnings Call Analysis
Ferrous Metals
margin: Category 3orderbook: No informationfundraise: Nocapex: Yesrevenue: Category 3
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- The company currently has **no immediate plans for fundraising** through debt or equity.
- An **enabling resolution to raise up to INR 1,000 crores of debt** has been taken, which is a routine measure for companies with AA and above ratings to finance working capital if needed.
- This resolution has been approved in the past but **no actual funds have been raised** so far.
- The resolution is **valid only for one year** and is primarily an enabling resolution, not a firm plan for debt raising.
- Any new capex related to SKS project will not utilize this INR 1,000 crore debt resolution.
- The company prefers to raise funds only if the right opportunity arises, with **no current fundraise underway or planned**.
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- No additional capacity, except a 50 MW captive solar power plant to be commissioned this year.
- Ongoing annual capex plans of INR 500 - 1,000 crores per year for next 2-3 years, spanning coal mines, hydropower, and other projects.
- Infrastructure ready for expanding power capacity by additional 800 MW (beyond current 600 MW), with plans to pursue environmental clearances.
- No immediate capex planned for the SKS power project for next 1.5 to 2 years; current INR 1,000 crore debt resolution not applicable for SKS capex.
- New small hydropower projects and 25 MW Kotaiveera hydropower project are in approval stages; work expected to start soon.
- A 30 MW TG set replacement underway, expected operational by mid-FY27.
- Open to mining expansion opportunities, including coal mine in Indonesia (targeting 1 million tons), and potential rare earth prospects.
- No plans for steel expansion currently; focus remains more on power and mining sectors.
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- Steel volumes are expected to remain more or less stable with slight improvements due to efficiencies; no significant volume growth planned (Page 7).
- Power segment generation is projected at around 400 crore+ units with an 80% Plant Load Factor (PLF) for FY '26, indicating stable volumes (Page 12).
- Hydropower generation increased by 37% YoY due to early monsoon, with new projects (e.g., Rehar hydropower) expected to enhance second-quarter performance (Page 3).
- The company continues to spend INR 500-1,000 crores annually on expansion projects in power, mining, and other segments with potential new opportunities (Page 9).
- No immediate expansion plans in steel and ferro alloys, focus is more on power and mining (Page 10).
- Infrastructure exists to expand thermal power capacity up to 1,200 MW with approvals in progress for further 800 MW (Page 10).
- Strategic focus on long-term PPAs plus market sales to balance stable revenue and market-driven gains (Page 15).
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- Steel division volumes expected to remain stable with possible efficiency-driven improvements; steel margin sustainable or likely to improve from current 18% EBITDA margin seen in Q1 FY '26.
- Power segment EBITDA dependent on market conditions; annual average plant load factor guidance at ~80%.
- Hydropower generation expected to contribute more in Q2 due to monsoon rains, helping offset subdued solar/thermal power prices during monsoon.
- SKS Power plant operating at ~90% PLF; power realizations for FY '26 expected around INR5 per unit (± INR0.50), with Q1 price of INR6.16 per unit being a seasonal peak.
- Improved profitability driven by better energy prices, higher hydropower generation, and lower finance costs.
- No specific numeric guidance given, but outlook indicates sustaining or improving earnings driven by operational efficiencies, market price recovery post-monsoon, and increasing energy business share.
- Focus on long-term PPAs for stable power pricing and opportunistic balance via spot market sales.
- Capex of INR 500-1,000 crores annually planned to drive growth in coal mining, hydropower, and other segments.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
The transcript from the Q1 FY26 earnings call for Sarda Energy & Minerals Limited does not explicitly mention the current or expected order book or pending orders in detail. Key relevant points are:
- The company is focused on growth, primarily in the energy and minerals segments rather than steel expansion.
- Ongoing investments include INR500 to INR1,000 crores annually over the next 2-3 years on expansion projects including coal mines and hydropower.
- No specific references to orderbook or pending orders volumes or values are mentioned.
- They have some project approvals pending (25 MW hydropower project, captive 50 MW solar plant commissioning in FY26).
- SKS Power plant is operational, with existing PPAs and plans to increase long-term PPAs.
Hence, explicit data on the size/value of order book or pending orders is not disclosed in this transcript.
