In March 2024, Adani Group in Mundra, Gujarat, is launching a greenfield copper refinery project called Kutch Copper Limited. Kutch Copper aims to produce copper cathodes, copper rods, gold, silver, nickel, and selenium. Additionally, this integrated facility will also produce sulfuric acid. In India, domestic copper concentrate production is limited, necessitating the import of raw materials from Latin America. This is where Kutch Copper Limited’s integrated greenfield copper refinery plays a vital role. The refinery is located in Mundra Port, and the project’s energy requirements will be met by Adani Power or the grid, along with the provision of necessary water through desalination.
Copper ranks third in industrial metal usage after steel and aluminum. In India, per capita copper consumption is only 0.6 kilograms, compared to the global average of 3.2 kilograms. As India aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070, this initiative will boost the demand for copper in clean energy systems.
The Copper Complex’s valuable metal recovery plant will annually produce gold and silver. So far, Indian industries have faced uncertainties in copper supply, but the country’s own copper production plant can alleviate these concerns. Furthermore, the industry can maintain better control over its supply, reducing dependence on the sole domestic source, Hindalco.
India has witnessed a decline in its copper exports, but Kutch Copper can revitalize it with modern zero liquid discharge technologies and equipment, appealing to global markets.
Adani, being one of India’s largest cement producers, will use the by-products of the copper plant. It can replace silica and hematite in raw mixtures for ordinary Portland cement production. Adani Group is extensively involved in energy and infrastructure sectors, along with ambitious energy transition projects.
Mundra’s connectivity through the national highway and railway network makes it easily accessible to the national market. Additionally, there are several major acid plants in Gujarat’s coastal region.
Adani’s copper project will be initiated in two phases. The first phase with a capacity of 500 metric tonnes is set to commence in March 2024, followed by an expansion to 500 metric tonnes in the second phase.
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