In a significant development, Kutch Copper, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), marked its debut in the metal industry by inaugurating the first unit of its greenfield copper refinery project in Mundra, Gujarat, on Thursday. The milestone was celebrated as the maiden batch of cathodes was dispatched to customers, marking the commencement of operations.
The project, undertaken by Adani Enterprises, represents a substantial investment of nearly $1.2 billion and aims to establish a copper smelter with a capacity of 0.5 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) in its initial phase. The initiative is expected to generate approximately 2,000 direct employment opportunities and an additional 5,000 indirect job opportunities, contributing significantly to local economic growth.
Gautam Adani, Founder and Chairman of Adani Group, expressed pride in the company’s foray into the metals sector, emphasizing its commitment to fostering India’s journey towards self-reliance and sustainability. He highlighted the project’s strategic importance in propelling India to the forefront of the global copper sector, underscoring the group’s dedication to rapid and efficient execution.
Upon completion of the second phase, which will add a similar capacity, Kutch Copper aims to become the world’s largest single-location custom smelter, setting benchmarks in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance standards. The company aims to achieve this while leveraging cutting-edge technology and digitalization to optimize operations.
Gautam Adani reiterated the group’s belief in the pivotal role of the domestic copper industry in supporting India’s aspirations for carbon neutrality by 2070. He emphasized the importance of aligning green infrastructure development with robust environmental stewardship to achieve sustainable growth.
The demand for copper is expected to witness a surge driven by various sectors such as renewable energy, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and power transmission networks. Kutch Copper aims to meet this demand sustainably by adopting innovative green technology with a focus on reducing carbon footprint.
The company has allocated significant resources towards environmental protection, with one-third of the plant area designated as green belt space and 15 percent of capital earmarked for environmental initiatives. To minimize ecological impact, the plant implements a zero-liquid discharge model and utilizes desalinated water for operations, emphasizing water conservation and waste reduction.
Kutch Copper’s commitment to sustainability and innovation underscores its vision to redefine copper production standards while contributing to India’s industrial growth and environmental conservation efforts.
