Kutch Copper, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, commissioned the first unit of its greenfield copper refinery project at Mundra on March 28 by dispatching the maiden batch of cathodes to customers, according to a statement from the Adani Group’s flagship arm. This milestone also marks the Adani Group’s entry into the metal industry.
“The successful progress of the greenfield unit showcases the Adani Group’s ability to plan and execute large-scale projects,” stated Adani Enterprises in a filing with the stock exchange. As of 11:30 AM on March 28, Adani Enterprises’ shares were trading nearly 1 percent higher at Rs 3,150.4 apiece.
Adani Enterprises is investing nearly $1.2 billion to establish a copper smelter with a capacity of 0.5 MTPA in the first phase. Upon completion of the second phase, which will add a similar capacity, Kutch Copper will have 1 MTPA capacity, making it the world’s largest single-location custom smelter. This project aims to benchmark ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance standards while leveraging state-of-the-art technology and digitalization. It is expected to create 2,000 direct and 5,000 indirect employment opportunities.
“With Kutch Copper commencing operations, the Adani portfolio of companies is not only entering the metals sector but also driving India’s leap towards a sustainable and self-reliant future,” said Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group.
“Our speed of execution in this ambitious, super-sized project underscores our commitment to propel India to the forefront of the global copper sector. We believe that the domestic copper industry will play a crucial role in achieving our nation’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2070 through strengthening our green infrastructure alongside mature environmental stewardship. Once operational, our modern smelter will establish new benchmarks in copper production, with a heightened focus on innovative green technology.”
The demand for copper is expected to be fueled by renewable energy, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and the development of power transmission and distribution networks.
Kutch Copper is also working on establishing Kutch Copper Tubes Limited as part of its forward integration strategy to include copper tubes in its portfolio, catering to applications in air conditioning and refrigeration.
The technology employed by Kutch Copper is designed to have the lowest carbon footprint possible. One-third of the plant area has been allocated as green belt space, with 15% of the capital earmarked for environmental protection measures. To minimize ecological impact, the plant has adopted a zero-liquid discharge model and utilizes desalinated water for operations. Additionally, it recycles treated wastewater within processes to reduce waste, further emphasizing Adani Enterprises’ commitment to sustainability.
