India is a country that is very abundant in natural resources. From fertile soil to dense woods, from rivers to mountains, the country is quite blessed with everything that nature has to offer. Copper is one of those gifts that is present on the earth which is a useful, versatile, a necessary metal. It is so indispensable that the modern world can’t function without it.
Copper exists in the wire which carries electricity to your house, the telephone that you use daily, the motor in your electric car and the pipes which deliver water to your kitchen. It is indeed among the most important metals of our age. But have you ever wondered where Indian copper comes from? What state is the greatest producer of copper?
How Much Copper Does India Produce?
The story of India’s copper is quite interesting as India is a country that has both the resource and the demand although it still relies on imports to supply its entire demand.
Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand are the only three states involved in the production of copper in the country. So although traces of copper are located in many locations in India, it is these three states that do all the heavy lifting in terms of the actual mining and production.
As per the IBM report from Government of India, “Largest reserves/resources of copper ore to the tune of 868 million tonnes (52.25%) are in the State of Rajasthan followed by Jharkhand with 251 million tonnes (15.14%) and Madhya Pradesh with 387 million tonnes (23.28%).”
Which State is the Largest Producer of Copper in India?
The answer is Madhya Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh is the leading producer of copper, accounting for about 60 percent of the production, followed by Rajasthan with 39 percent and Jharkhand with 1 percent.
The IBM report mentions: “Madhya Pradesh was the leading producer State of copper concentrates accounting for about 60% of the production during 2020-21, followed by Rajasthan with 39% and Jharkhand with 1 per cent.”
Over fifty percent of the total copper smelted in India is done in Madhya Pradesh. The secret behind this dominance is due to one of the most productive locations in MP which is Malanjkhand.
Malanjkhand Copper Project in Madhya Pradesh is the largest copper ore-producing mine in India with a production capacity of 2 million tonnes per year. It forms a huge operation of copper mining business of India.
The Malanjkhand Mine is an underground and surface mine operated by Hindustan Copper, and it yielded an approximate of 17.62 thousand tonnes of copper in 2023.
The IBM report states: “Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) is the largest copper ore producing mine with 2.0 million tonnes production capacity per year.”
Who Mines Copper in India?
India has three large copper-producing companies, namely Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) and Hindalco Limited and Vedanta Industries Limited. The Ministry of Mines mentions: “Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) was the sole producer of refined copper till 1995 and the focus was on vertical integration so that the entire quantity of ore produced in its mines was converted into copper cathode and ultimately, wire rod. After liberalization of the economy, the copper segment of industry has transformed significantly. Currently, three major players dominate the Indian copper industry. Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) in Public Sector, M/s Hindalco Industries Ltd and M/s Vedanta in private sector, having current total installed refined copper capacity in the country 10.28 lakh tonnes.”
Copper does not get the same focus as gold or diamond, yet in this day and age, where there is mad rush towards clean energy, copper perhaps deserves more recognition than ever before.
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