Context
Though copper demand is poised to surge over the next decade throughout geographies, the production of copper ore in India fell to 3.78 million tonnes (Mt) in FY24 from 4.13 Mt in FY19, as per the Ministry of Mines statistics.
Copper Metal
- Copper is a gentle, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity.
- Copper is one of the few metals that happens in nature in directly usable metal form (native metals).
- It is an critical non-ferrous base steel having high commercial programs, starting from defence, space programme, railways, electricity cables, mint, telecommunication cables, etc.
Reserves in India
- India has around 2% of the sector reserve of copper.
- Largest reserves/ assets of copper ore to the tune of 813 million tonnes/ Mt (53.81% of the full all India resources) are in the State of Rajasthan observed by Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh.
- The Khetri Mine, one of the biggest copper mines in India, is located in the Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan.
- Copper reserves/ sources are also determined in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, and many others.
Copper Ore Production in India
- India’s copper manufacturing is 2% of the sector’s copper production and it is not self-enough in the production of copper ore.
- The domestic demand for copper and its alloys is met through domestic production, recycling of scrap and by imports.
- In addition to domestic manufacturing of ore and concentrates, India imports copper concentrates for its smelters.
- In the copper value chain, copper concentrate is smelted into copper anode, that is then subtle into copper cathode/ delicate copper, that is crucial for producing rods, sheets, wires, and different input goods.
- Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a Public Sector Undertaking, is the best incorporated Company in the country that is engaged in mining and beneficiation of ore and is engaged in smelting, refining and casting of refined copper.
- Hindalco Industries Ltd and Vedanta Limited are the main copper producers in the Private Sector that in particular depend upon imported copper concentrates.
- These corporations own copper mines in different nations.
Current Status of Copper Ore Production in India
- Exploration lags:
- In India, copper ore reserves stand at an expected 208 Mt, most of that are of low grade.
- Copper sources (average 1.51 billion tonnes) require enormous exploration to convert sources into reserves that are feasible for mining.
- The National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET), under the Ministry of Mines, oversees mineral block exploration in India.
- Insufficient exploration and a scarcity of private sector participation over the past decade have hindered the improvement of new mines.
- For instance, in FY24 and FY23, NMET permitted only two copper exploration projects.
- In 2023, the Ministry of Mines changed regulations to encourage non-public exploration corporations to explore critical minerals like copper.
- Increasing reliance on imports:
- Copper has been distinctive as a vital mineral, and its role in smooth electricity technologies – like wind generators and EV batteries – has positioned India’s developing import reliance within the highlight.
- From developing new import sources in copper-rich nations like Mongolia to buying fairness in Zambian and Chilean mines, fundamental personal gamers are collaborating with the Ministry of Mines in securing India’s copper supply chain.
Source: The Indian Express