Adani Set to Launch World’s Largest Copper Smelter in Gujarat

Adani Enterprises is preparing to commission the first phase of its Kutch Copper smelting facility in Mundra, Gujarat, within the next four weeks, according to company officials at an industry conference in Santiago, Chile. The launch will mark the completion of Phase 1, with an initial capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year and a total investment of nearly $1.2 billion. When Phase 2 is completed, the facility will reach a capacity of one million tonnes annually, making it the world’s largest single-location custom copper smelter, as reported by Business Standard.

The Kutch Copper plant has already begun dispatching its first batch of copper cathodes to customers, marking Adani’s entry into the metals sector. According to Adani Enterprises, the project is designed to help reduce India’s reliance on imported refined copper and support the country’s manufacturing and infrastructure development. India’s per capita copper consumption remains well below the global average, but demand is expected to double by 2030, driven by growth in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and power transmission networks, as outlined in the company’s operations overview.

The facility is engineered to have the lowest carbon footprint in its class, with one-third of the plant area designated as green belt space and 15% of capital allocated to environmental protection. The plant operates on a zero-liquid discharge model, uses desalinated water, and recycles treated wastewater to minimize ecological impact. The project is expected to create 2,000 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs.

The announcement comes as copper and other base metal prices rallied sharply following the U.S. administration’s decision to temporarily suspend certain international tariffs, providing a potential boost for producers like Adani, as noted by Reuters. Despite current market challenges, including negative treatment and refining charges, Adani’s leadership has emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to the project and to supporting India’s transition to a self-reliant, sustainable industrial future.