State-owned Hindustan Copper Ltd. (HCL) is fast-tracking the expansion of its flagship Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) in Madhya Pradesh, with plans to nearly double its ore production capacity to 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030-31, Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Kumar Singh said. The project forms a key part of the company’s long-term strategy to boost domestic copper production and reduce India’s dependence on imports.
The Malanjkhand mine, which contributes nearly 80% of HCL’s total ore production, produced 2.725 MTPA in FY25. Under the company’s phased expansion roadmap, production is targeted to increase to 2.75 MTPA in FY26, 2.85 MTPA in FY27, 3 MTPA in FY28, 3.3 MTPA in FY29, 3.5 MTPA in FY30, before reaching the final target of 5 MTPA by FY2030-31.
To support the expansion, HCL is setting up a new 3 MTPA concentrator plant at Malanjkhand with an estimated investment of around ₹400 crore. The engineering design and tender documents are being prepared by MECON, while construction of the facility is expected to begin next year. The project will be financed through the company’s internal resources.
The Malanjkhand Copper Project has already completed its transition from open-cast to underground mining, a move that has enabled the company to continue expanding production while ensuring sustainable mining operations. The project also houses a 3 MTPA paste-fill plant, which supports safe underground mining practices.
HCL is simultaneously pursuing its broader Vision 2030 programme, under which it plans to increase its overall ore production capacity from the current 4 MTPA to 12.2 MTPA by FY2030-31. Besides Malanjkhand, the company is also planning to establish another 3 MTPA concentrator plant at its Rakha mine in Jharkhand to strengthen its beneficiation capacity.
