Ranchi, Sept. 8: Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) aims to expand mining activities by raising its current output of 3.2 million tonne per annum to 12.4MTPA in the next five years, with a focus on revival of its units in Jharkhand.
The company wants to resurrect its copper mines in the Ghatshila-Musaboni region of East Singhbhum. While it aims to hike its production target at Sudra mines from 0.4 MTPA to 0.9 MTPA, it also plans to reopen the Kendadih mines.
At Rakha mines, which is now closed, the production target is pegged at 1.5MTPA while the central PSU is also interested in opening Chapri mines ' a greenfield project.
"During 2000-2001, as the demand of copper in the world market reduced, HCL was forced to close operations in some of the mines. Now, there is again a surge in demand. We are in various stages of developing the mines in Ghatshila subdivision," director (mining) of HCL Avijit Ghosh told The Telegraph on the sidelines of a daylong meet here today.
The HCL director added that enhanced production was also being targeted for the company's mining projects in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The conference titled Sustainable Mining ' The Road Ahead, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry, was also attended by additional chief secretary A.K. Sarkar, who heads the mines department, former chairman-cum-managing director of Coal India Limited Partha S. Bhattacharya, Telcon MD Ranaveer Sinha and CCL CMD Gopal Singh.
Bhattacharya stressed the need for sustainable mining practices by all stakeholders.
"Mining basically is an unsustainable business. We degrade landscapes and reduce forest areas. So, there lies a bigger responsibility of addressing the issue of sustainability. In Jharkhand, the problem appears to be greater. We should not indulge in a blame game, but share responsibilities," he said.
