"Surda Copper Mine Operations Set to Begin in ‘One or Two Months’"

The Mines Ministry is preparing to restart operations at the Surda copper mine in Jharkhand within the next one to two months. Necessary clearances for two additional mines at the Indian Copper Complex in Ghatshila-Rakha and Kendadih-are also in progress, according to a senior Ministry official.

The official confirmed that all required clearances, including those related to forest and environmental regulations, have been secured over the past two to three months following a two-year process with the state government. The final approvals are expected in the coming weeks, and work at the Surda mine is anticipated to resume within the next month.

The restart of Surda mine operations is part of the Ministry’s 100-day plan. Hindustan Copper, the public sector enterprise (PSE) under the Mines Ministry, owns these mines. The plan includes increasing Surda’s production capacity from 0.4 million tonnes (mt) to 0.9 mt through shaft sinking, deepening winzes, and other measures. The Surda Mining Lease has been extended until March 31, 2040.

The company is also working to reopen closed mines and develop new underground mines at the Singhbum Copper Belt, specifically Kendadih and Rakha. Kendadih was reopened in December 2017 after dewatering, but the production contract was terminated in May 2023 due to unsatisfactory performance. Rakha’s mining lease expired in August 2021, and an extension application is under review by the Jharkhand government.

Efforts are underway to engage a Mine Developer-cum-Operator (MDO) for Rakha and to expand operations. Additionally, development of a new underground mine at Chapri Block and a new Concentrator Plant with a matching capacity are in progress.

Beyond Jharkhand, Hindustan Copper operates mines and concentrator plants at the Malanjkhand Copper Project in Madhya Pradesh and the Khetri Copper Complex in Rajasthan. The company produces copper cathodes, wire bars, continuous cast copper rods, and by-products such as anode slime, copper sulphate, and sulphuric acid.

According to its FY23 annual report, Hindustan Copper’s production capacity stands at 4.24 mt, with plans to increase it to 12.20 mtpa by FY29. Copper has been identified as a critical mineral in India, with the country’s annual capacity at approximately 800,000 tonnes in FY24. Despite local production, India remains reliant on imports for copper refining, with a significant portion of refined copper imported.

HBL