Hindustan Copper (HCL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Coal India (CIL) to jointly explore opportunities in the copper and critical minerals sectors. The agreement, signed on 30 June, 2025, was disclosed by HCL in a stock exchange filing.

The MoU lays the groundwork for future collaboration in identifying and assessing viable projects, both domestically and internationally. The partnership will focus on strategic cooperation in areas such as project development, resource exploration, and global alliances, aimed at strengthening India’s self-reliance in essential minerals vital for energy transition and manufacturing. HCL, India's only vertically integrated copper producer, operates copper mines in Malanjkhand (Madhya Pradesh), Khetri (Rajasthan), and Ghatsila (Jharkhand).

The company is involved in the full value chain—from exploration and mining to beneficiation and production of copper concentrate. This collaboration with CIL, a major public sector enterprise in coal production, aligns with the government's vision of leveraging synergies between state-owned enterprises to secure critical mineral supply chains and support the country’s industrial and strategic needs.