Hindustan Copper Limited

Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) is a Schedule-A, Miniratna category -1 Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Mines, Government of India. The company was incorporated on 9th November 1967, under the Companies Act, 1956. It was established as a Govt. of India Enterprise to take over all plants, projects, schemes and studies pertaining to the exploration and exploitation of copper deposits, including Khetri Mines from National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. The Government of India nationalized the only copper producing company in the private sector, Indian Copper Corporation Ltd. at Ghatsila in Jharkhand in March, 1972 and handed over its management and ownership to Hindustan Copper Limited. In November, 1982, Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) comprising of a large and fully mechanized open pit mine and Concentrator plant was dedicated to the nation. The Continuous Cast Copper Rod Plant at Taloja Copper Project (TCP of Hindustan Copper Limited was commissioned in December, 1989. In 2015-16, HCL acquired Gujarat Copper Project (GCP), secondary smelting and refining facility with annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum Cathode production.
The equity shares of HCL are listed on BSE and NSE stock exchanges and currently 72.76 % equity is owned by the Government of India (as on 31.05.2021). The authorized capital of the Company is Rs. 1100 crore (Equity share capital: Rs 900 Crore and preference share capital: Rs 200 crore) &paid-up capital of the Company is Rs. 483.51 crore as on 31.05.2021.

The Company has plans to increase its mining capacity from the level of 4.0 million tons per annum to 12.2 million tons per annum in phase –I (under implementation) and from 12.2 million tons per annum to 20.2 million tons per annum afterwards in phase-II through expansion of existing mines, re-opening of closed mines and opening of new mines.

HCL owns 7 Nos. mining leases across India and have following five Units, at Khetri (Rajasthan), Malanjkhand (Madhya Pradesh), Ghatsila (Jharkhand), Taloja (Maharashtra) and Jhagadia (Gujarat):

• A. Khetri Copper Complex (KCC) at Khetrinagar, Rajasthan,comprised of two operating underground mines namely 'Khetri' and 'Kolihan’ andan Ore beneficiation plant. Operation of Smelter & Refinery with annual production capacity of 31000 tonnes copper cathode, which was commissioned in 1975, have been suspended since December, 2008, and closed subsequently.
   
• B. Indian Copper Complex (ICC) at Ghatsila, Jharkhand comprised of two operating underground mines: Surda & Kendadih,along with ore beneficiation plant. Another mine, named Rakha closed in 2001 due to economic unviability,will be re-opened soon under MDO route, along with development of a new mine at the adjacent Chapri Block. Besides the above there are Smelter, Refineryand other allied facilities to produce refined copper having capacity of 18,500 tonnes per annum and other by products.
   
• C. Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) at Malanjkhand, Madhya Pradesh comprised of an open pit mine and ore beneficiation plant. The open pit mine is at its fag end of life, and an underground mine with capacity of 5.0 Million Tonnes per annum ore production, is being developed below the open pit mine.Aore beneficiation plant with matching capacity will also be constructed there.
   
• D. Taloja Copper Project (TCP) at Taloja, Maharashtra, a Continuous Cast Copper Rod plant with an installed capacity of 60,000 tonnes per annum based on Southwire Technology for conversion of refined copper into wire rod.
   
• E. Gujarat Copper Project (GCP) at Bharuch, Gujarat, a secondary smelting and refining facility with installedannual capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum to manufacture LME Grade "A” equivalent refined copper using secondary smelting and refining route.