The Adani Group is building the world’s largest single-location copper manufacturing plant at Mundra in Gujarat, which will help reduce India’s dependence on imports and support the transition to clean energy. The plant, named Kutch Copper Limited, is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL) and will have an annual capacity of 1 million tonnes in two phases. The first phase, with a capacity of 0.5 million tonnes, will start operations by March-end 2024, while the full-scale capacity will be achieved by March 2029 .
Copper is the third most used industrial metal after steel and aluminium, and its demand is rising due to the fast-growing renewable energy, telecom and electric vehicle industries. India’s per capita copper consumption is estimated at around 0.6 kg compared to the global average of 3.2 kg. India’s drive towards clean energy systems, increasing penetration of electric vehicles and a host of associated applications are expected to double the domestic copper demand by 2030.
The Adani Group is investing heavily in energy transition, in which copper will play a vital role. It is expanding into adjacent areas of its current capabilities, which makes the copper business a strategic fit. “Adani wants to become a global leader in the copper business, leveraging the Adani Group’s strong position in resource trading, logistics, renewable power, and infrastructure,” Kutch Copper Ltd managing director Vinay Prakash said. “Their aim is to be the world’s largest copper smelting complex by 2030.”
The plant will use state-of-the-art technology and adhere to the highest environmental standards. It will also create employment opportunities for the local population and contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.