Copper banks on power projects

The power sector would be the most important user of copper in the country in the next five years, according to the International Copper Promotion Council of India (ICPCI).

"Under the 'power for all by 2012' vision of the national government, 100,000MW is to be added in generation requiring a capital investment of about Rs 900,000 crores at today's costs. Natural copper will be increasingly utilised in distribution transformers and motors," said Tarun Grover, chief executive officer, International Copper Promotion Council of India.

Frank Kane, president of the New York based International Copper Association (ICA), said at the sidelines of the India review meeting organised by ICPCI, that ICA could help the copper smelting and processing sector in India through funding research and tech nology.

ICPCI would promote copper use in buildings and in plumbing. It would push for use of copper in piped LPG systems.