Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) plans to invest INR 20 billion over the next five to six years to expand its mining operations. The company aims to increase its ore production capacity from 4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 12.2 MTPA by the financial year 2030-31.
The planned investment will primarily support the expansion of the Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) in Madhya Pradesh, which is set to receive around INR 14-15 billion. Additional funds will be allocated to the company’s operations at Khetri in Rajasthan and the Indian Copper Complex (ICC) in Jharkhand, Sanjiv Kr Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of HCL, told PTI. The capital expenditure does not include the Rakha and Chapri mines in Jharkhand, which are being revived under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
A JSW Group company, which has secured the Mine Developer and Operator (MDO) contract for Rakha and Chapri, is expected to invest approximately INR 26 billion, including the establishment of a new concentrator plant.
At the Malanjkhand Copper Project, the expansion will involve developing underground mining infrastructure, installing a paste-fill plant, and setting up a new concentrator facility. At Khetri, the company plans to enhance mining and concentrator capacities. The Rakha mine operations at the ICC unit are expected to resume by the fourth quarter of the current financial year.
In the financial year 2024-25, HCL reported revenue of INR 20.71 billion and a profit before tax of INR 6.34 billion. Over the past two years, the company has added over 123 million tonnes of copper ore resources through exploration and plans to continue expanding its reserves. HCL is also pursuing opportunities to acquire new deposits through upcoming mineral auctions and is collaborating with Chile’s CODELCO on mining and beneficiation technologies.
Hindustan Copper Limited is a state-run enterprise engaged in mining, beneficiation, smelting, refining, and casting of refined copper products. The company is currently the only vertically integrated copper producer in India and holds access to approximately 45 per cent of the country’s copper ore resources.
