The Adani Group-owned Kutch Copper is right now in talks with the Australian mining company BHP for a deal that would include around 1.6 MTPA of copper concentrate. This would be worth INR 30,000 crore annually. This would help the Adani Group in gaining extraordinary control over the material and mining sector. The Adani Group has already been generating a significant amount of revenue from Adani coal import from Australia. Now it has targeted the Australian copper resources as well. By tapping into the copper concentrate, it will be able to further enhance its control over the copper mining sector. The global conglomerate will also be able to earn excellent profitability for itself.
The Recent Deal Taken Up In The Copper Mining Sector:
The Gautam Adani-controlled Kutch Copper is currently in discussions with the Australian mining giant BHP to secure a substantial copper concentrate supply. The agreement would involve around 1.6 million tons per annum of copper concentrates. This deal is going to be worth INR 30,000 crores as per the recent market rates. However, the final price value may fluctuate because of the high market price volatility of copper. As of November, the copper prices on the London Metal Exchange are 9,474 USD per ton. As per the market forecast, these prices are expected to rise to 9,715 USD per ton. It is going to surpass 10,000 USD per ton by December 2025.
Both companies are currently finalizing the details of the agreement. Once the deal is finalised, the Adani Group will be able to import a significant amount of copper in India. This is going to fulfill our growing copper needs. With this extraordinary step in the copper mining sector, the Adani Group will also be able to get rid of the controversies of Adani coal import which have been ongoing for quite a while now. The global conglomerate will also be able to win back the trust of the customers post the ongoing controversies.
An Overview of Kutch Copper:
Kutch Copper which is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises commissioned the first unit of its copper refinery project in Mundra earlier in 2024. This allowed the company to solidify its position in the copper mining industry. Adani Enterprises is planning on making investments worth 1.2 billion USD to build a copper smelter having an initial capacity of 0.5 MTPA. A second phase of the project is also planned. This is going to double the capacity of the project to 1 MTPA. Upon successful completion, Kutch Copper will accommodate the world’s largest custom copper smelter at a single location. It would boost our country’s copper capacity. It is going to attend to the ever-growing needs of copper in the upcoming years. The Adani Group will also be able to rise above the ongoing controversies of the Adani coal import.
This project is the Adani Group’s first greenfield refinery project to have been built at Mundra. The project also marks the Adani Group’s debut in the metal and material industry. This project has been installed with state-of-the-art technology and digitalization so that the ESG performance standards can be met. The project has also created thousands of job opportunities for the people. The technology used by Kutch Copper is engineered to have the lowest carbon footprint. One-tenth of the plant’s area is designated as a greenbelt space. 15% of the capital for the project has also been allocated for environmental protection. To minimize ecological impact, the plant has implemented a zero-liquid discharge model. It also uses desalinated water for its various operations. The plant also recycles treated wastewater within its various processes to reduce the use of water.
Why Increase The Country’s Coal Capacity?
Over the past few years, India has been experiencing a rising demand for copper. As of now, Hindustan Copper Limited is the only public-sector copper company that produces copper. The company contributes to a total domestic production of around 4 MTPA. This only accounts for 4.5 % of the country’s overall copper concentrate needs. This highlights the significant reliance on import. India’s per capita copper consumption is also expected to grow from 0.6 kg to 1 kg. In comparison, the global average per capita consumption is at 3.2 kg. This highlights India’s increasing demand for copper in the upcoming year.
With the Adani Group’s major investments in the copper mining sector, we will be able to
address this increased demand for copper. We will no longer have to depend on other countries for importing copper. This would also help reduce the overall price of copper extraction. It will streamline production operations and will also lead us towards enhancing profitability. The increased demand for copper in India will mainly be driven by electric vehicles, renewable energy, charging infrastructure, etc. The development of power transmission and distribution networks would also require significant amounts of copper.
Why Enter Into A Deal With BHP?
BHP happens to be one of the most reliable names in the copper mining sector. The company has a global presence in this sector.
BHP sources copper from multiple key locations around the world like Australia, Argentina, Chile, and Arizona. It is also the largest supplier of copper concentrates to India where the domestic demand exceeds the production capacity to a considerable extent. Indian companies mainly import copper concentrates with around 25% copper content. It is then processed in the local smelter. The pricing for copper supply deals is mainly linked to the London Metal Exchange.
Various other factors are also involved while setting the prices such as currency hedging, treatment, freight costs, refining charges and operational costs. By importing copper from BHP, the Adani Group will be able to increase its business exposure. The company has already been earning significant revenue from Adani coal import. Now its revenue generation from the copper mining sector will also increase.
Conclusion:
By entering into a deal with Kutch Copper, the Adani Group will be able to increase the availability of copper in the country. Along with Adani coal import, the company will also start importing copper. This will offer its business extraordinary growth. Very soon, the Adani Group will also be able to take up the position of being one of the biggest players in the coal mining sector.