State-owned Hindustan Copper has partnered with JSW Group’s South West Mining Ltd (SWML) to revive copper mining in Jharkhand. The company expects to earn around Rs 2,400 crore over the next 20 years from this deal.
SWML won the contract in January to develop and operate two mining blocks—Rakha and Chapri—on a revenue-sharing basis. Rakha was an old mine that shut down 20 years ago, while Chapri is a new project. The mines will operate under a single lease owned by Hindustan Copper.
Sanjiv Kumar Singh, the newly appointed CMD of Hindustan Copper, called this contract crucial for restarting Jharkhand’s mining operations. The Rakha mine is expected to produce three million tonnes of ore per year and will start partial operations by 2026-27.
The MDO (Mine Developer and Operator) will handle mine development, capital investment, and operations, making it a cost-effective model for Hindustan Copper. This project is expected to boost domestic copper production, supporting industries like electric vehicles, renewable energy, and electronics while reducing India’s dependence on imports.
