Hindustan Copper to set up hydro metallurgy plant in Madhya Pradesh

Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), the public sector undertaking serving under the Ministry of Mines, is going to expand with a hydro metallurgy plant at Malanjkhand in Chattisgarh.

The expansion, estimated to be of Rs 2200 crore, will be accompanied by a Nickel plant of 7 crore as well at the same venue.Malanjkhand Copper Belt comprises of a large body of copper ore in granitic rocks varying from diorite to granite in composition. The deposits are: Malanjkhand, Shitalpani (Balaghat, Chattisgarh), Gidhri Dhorli, Jatta and Garhi Dongri.

HCL’s estimated cap of expenditure at Malanjkhand Copper Belt was 3,435 crore till 2012 to 2017.

But with this expansion, the cap was increased to 6,000 crore till 2020. But the expansion needs an approval in the cabinet committee on economic affairs.

In a conversation with the journalists after the annual general meeting (AGM) 

on Monday, the chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of HCL K D Diwan said that they’ll set up hydro metallurgy unit at Malanjkhand and this expansion will need 3 years.

However, Malanjkhand Copper Project was established in 1982. Initial project had been set up by Hindustan Copper Limited to exploit the copper ore through an open pit mine.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) took systematic geological exploration at this deposit during 1969. Mining lease of the ore was granted to HCL during 1973.

With advancement of time, this project was enhanced with viable operational developments.