Adani Group’s fully-owned Kutch Copper smelter in Mundra, Gujarat, is set to begin operations in a few weeks, with the first unit of its copper refinery already commissioned earlier this year.

The smelter will be expanded to reach a capacity of one million tonne after stabilising the initial 5,00,000-tonne unit in the next three quarters. The expansion, costing between USD 700-800 million, will bring the total investment in the facility to approx. USD two billion. Once complete, the Mundra-based smelter is expected to be among the largest single-location smelters in the world.

Initially, Kutch Copper will source its copper concentrate from Latin America but is exploring additional suppliers from Australia and Africa to diversify its supply base. Approx. 40 percent of the copper produced will be used by the Adani Group for its renewable energy, transmission, and wires and cables businesses. The second phase of the smelter, which will double the capacity to one MTPA, is expected to commence after stabilizing the initial unit, with funding likely coming from the cash flows generated by current operations. Expansion decisions are not expected before FY27.