Mines

Adani's Kutch copper refinery to help cut reliance on imports: Govt

The government on Friday said that once Adani's Kutch copper refinery is ramped up to full capacity, which is likely by early next year, the country will be self-sufficient in refined copper. In a statement, the mines ministry said that till that time some amount of import of refined copper will take place in India. "Adani's Kutch Copper Refinery has since come into production. However, as per company officials, ramp up to full capacity will require some more time (about Feb-March 2025). Once achieved, India will be self-sufficient in refined copper, and will not have to rely on imports," it said. In the last fiscal, India imported about 3,63,000 tonnes of refined copper cathode worth Rs 24,552 crore. Japan accounts for about two-thirds 67 per cent-- of the refined copper imports. In quantity terms, about 69 per cent of the country's refined copper imports come from Japan. Tanzania is India's second important source of refined copper, contributing about 18 per cent of the imports

Japan holds Sado mines memorial despite South Korean boycott amid tensions

Japan held a memorial ceremony on Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines despite a last-minute boycott of the event by South Korea that highlighted tensions between the neighbors over the issue of Korean forced laborers at the site before and during World War II. South Korea's absence at Sunday's memorial, to which Seoul government officials and Korean victims' families were invited, is a major setback in the rapidly improving ties between the two countries, which since last year have set aside their historical disputes to prioritize U.S.-led security cooperation. The Sado mines were listed in July as a UNESCO World Heritage site after Japan moved past years of disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines' dark history, promising to hold an annual memorial service for all victims, including hundreds of Koreans who were mobilized to work in the mines. On Saturday, South Korea announced it would not attend the event, saying it was impossible to settle unspecified .

Centre introduces new royalty rates ahead of first offshore mineral auction

The Act has established ad valorem royalty rates for key minerals, meaning that rates are based on the mineral's sale value rather than quantity

Mine over matter: Critical mineral policy must address industry needs

Creating a responsive enabling environment for the critical mineral mining industry is the key to ensuring that this vital business does not go the way of previous governments' oil exploration policy

Hindustan Copper plans to increase mine production capacity to 12.2 MTPA

State-owned Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) is implementing expansion projects to increase mine production capacity to 12.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), its CMD Ghanshyam Sharma said on Thursday. The move will boost domestic production of copper and reduce dependence on imports. The company achieved ore production of 3.78 million tonnes in FY'24 against 3.35 MT in FY'23, registering a rise of 13 per cent. Speaking during the 57th Annual General Meeting, Sharma who is holding the addition charge of Chairman and Managing Director, said that the ongoing capacity expansion project i.e. development of underground mine below the existing open cast mine at Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) will augment the ore production capacity from 2.5 MTPA to 5 MTPA. The ore production from open cast mine has now exhausted and underground mine is operating below existing open cast mine leaving some barrier pillar. The project has achieved seamless transition from open cast to underground mine in 2023-2

Govt held several roadshows for stake sale in Hindustan Zinc: Mines secy

The government has conducted several roadshows in the last 15 days in financial capitals like Mumbai, London, Boston and New York to assess the market and meet investors for sale of its stake in Vedanta Group firm Hindustan Zinc Ltd. The government, which owns 29.5 per cent in the company, is the largest minority shareholder in Hindustan Zinc. "The roadshow is about the disinvestment process. So, the government is committed to disinvestment of some of its stake in Hindustan Zinc Ltd and in that to assess the market and meet investors and all that several roadshows have happened in the last fifteen days. "They have happened in Bombay, Singapore, Hongkong, London, Boston, New York. So in all the majors financial capitals the roadshows have happened," Mines Secretary V L Kantha Rao said on the sidelines of a training-cum-workshop on the UNESCO Global Geoparks and Geoparks in India. The government had earlier said that it is committed to offloading its stake in Hindustan Zinc through

Govt makes offshore mineral rules stricter but eases awarding process

The mines ministry has identified 10 offshore mineral blocks for potential auction and is holding inter-ministerial consultation to secure approval

Provisioned, expect limited impact from SC's ruling, say metal majors

Mining industry hit estimated at Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 trillion, companies to closely watch states for next move

Centre to offer financial support to boost critical minerals sector growth

The focus of this initiative is to help find ways to develop extraction technology and better methods of beneficiation

CIL removes all restrictions on coal purchases, demand to dictate supply

Ends nearly 20-year practice of supply based on contracted capacity

JSW Steel to invest $120 mn in Australian miner for raw material security

The investment will be made through wholly owned subsidiary JSW Steel (Netherlands) BV

385 mines auctioned since 2015, only 50 operational; challenges persist

The government said the amendments made in the MMDR Act have led to speedy auction and production from mines

Union Budget 2024: India scraps customs duty on 25 critical minerals

The finance minister added, "I propose to fully exempt customs duties on 25 critical minerals and reduce BCD on two of them"

J&K lithium block fails to secure bids in 2nd attempt as well: Report

The government in February 2023 found its first lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir with estimated reserves of 5.9 million metric tons.

Breaking the minerals monopoly

India can draw inspiration from Indonesia's success in nickel to lead globally in critical minerals

Union min G Kishan Reddy holds 1st review meeting of coal, mines ministries

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy has reviewed both the coal and mines ministries after taking charge. "Held a detailed review meeting of the Ministry of Mines ( @MinesMinIndia) in New Delhi," he said on Friday in a post on X (formerly known as twitter). Reddy on Thursday took charge as coal and mines minister and said that India should increase domestic production of the fossil-fuel and reduce coal imports. The minister of state for coal and mines Satish Chandra Dubey and other officials of the mines ministry were also present during the meeting. In another post, the minister said, "Chaired 1st review meeting of the Ministry of Coal after taking charge in New Delhi." Reddy on Thursday told reporters that India should increase domestic coal production and reduce import of fossil fuel. India's coal import rose by 7.7 per cent to 268.24 million tonnes (MT) in FY '24. Reddy further said 10 years ago there was a coal shortage in the country and due to this there was also a shortage of ..

India looks at Russia to secure rare mineral mining tech, partnership

Collaboration part of broader strategy to attract investment, foster cooperation in mineral exploration

Dependency on minerals import risks India's green tech progress: ICRA

According to the report, there has been a gradual shift in global energy policy priorities from fuel and energy security to mineral security

Mines ministry asks Coal India, NMDC to look for lithium mines overseas

Ministry will lead a delegation to Zambia in June and later to Congo to explore joint ventures in critical minerals

All 15 workers rescued from copper mine in Rajasthan, 1 feared dead

Fourteen officials and members of a vigilance team of PSU Hindustan Copper Limited were trapped in a mine in Rajasthan's Neem ka Thana district on Tuesday night when a vertical shaft used for transportation of personnel collapsed, police said. Praveen Nayak, Superintendent of Police of Neem ka Thana district, said that a rescue team has reached the trapped personnel and some of them could be injured. Efforts are on to bring out the personnel who are stuck at a depth of several hundred metres at the Kolihan mine, the police said. According to preliminary information, the incident occurred when the vigilance team along with senior officials of the state-owned company went inside the mine for an inspection. When they were about to come up, a rope of the shaft or 'cage' broke due to which around 14 people were stuck, the police said. Khetri MLA Dharmpal Gurjar reached the site and took stock of the situation. Neem ka Thana district is around 108 km from state capital Jaipur.