FCC

Union Minister Releases Copper Vision Document for Sustainable Mining

2025-07-07

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, today released the Copper Vision Document at the International Conference on Sustainable and Responsible Mining through Best Mine Closure Practices, organised by the Indian National Committee of the World Mining Congress in Hyderabad.

Shri Reddy highlighted copper’s critical role in India’s energy transition, infrastructure expansion, and green technologies including electric vehicles and solar power. He noted that the Vision Document sets forth a long-term strategy to meet the nation’s growing domestic demand while ensuring raw material security.

The document was developed through extensive consultations with major industry stakeholders such as Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL), Hindalco Industries Ltd., Kutch Copper Ltd., Vedanta Ltd., Indo-Asia Copper Ltd., Lohum, along with associations like the Indian Primary Copper Producers Association (IPCPA) and the International Copper Association (ICA).

The Copper Vision Document projects a sixfold increase in demand by 2047 and outlines plans to add 5 million tonnes per annum of smelting and refining capacity by 2030. It emphasises scaling up secondary refining, boosting domestic recycling, and reducing reliance on open-market imports by securing overseas mineral assets through global partnerships.

Aligned with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, the Copper Vision Document marks a significant step towards building a sustainable, resilient, and future-ready copper ecosystem for India.