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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 28 June 2025

Copper giant to revive mines - HCL collaborates with Bengal firm to tap Kendadih

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PINAKI MAJUMDAR Published 18.02.12, 12:00 AM

Jamshedpur, Feb. 17: Public sector giant Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) has collaborated with Bengal’s Maheshwari Mining Private Limited (MMPL) to resume mining at Kendadih, one among a cluster of closed mines in the state.

Officials of the PSU said the dewatering (draining water accumulated during the period after shutdown) at the mines would begin soon.

“About Rs 100 crore will be spent for reviving the mines. The Raniganj-based private company, which has expertise in underground mining, will carry out dewatering, the process that is required before starting actual mining,” HCL general manager S. Mardi told The Telegraph.

Located 10km from Ghatshila, Kendadih mines, which was closed in 2001, have a capacity to produce 1,000 tonnes of copper per day. “Initially, we have set a target of mining 1,000 tonnes of copper. Later, the capacity will be enhanced,” said an official of HCL.

At present, only Surda mines area is operational. India Resources Limited (IRL), the Indian wing of an Australian mining company, is engaged in mining activities at Surda.

The Rakha, Kendadih and Sidheshwar-Chapri mines were closed down about 10 years ago after copper rates took a nosedive in the international market. Now, with the prices picking up, HCL sees a good opportunity to resume mining in the region.

At present, HCL’s Malanjkhand unit in Madhya Pradesh is catering supplies around 250 tonnes of copper concentrate, which is required on a daily basis, while Surda mines provide around 30 tonnes. But officials of the company are optimistic that once the Kendadih mines are revived, its dependency on the Malanjkhand unit would lessen.

The general secretary of Jharkhand Copper Mazdoor Union, D.P. Mukherjee, said the revival of Kendadih mines would generate employment opportunities.

“Kendadih is expected to resume production in the next six months. We are happy that it would provide employment opportunities to the local people,” he said.

Mukherjee revealed that they had also agreed to the management’s decision of enforcing a shutdown of about one and a half months for necessary repairs and maintenance at the processing plant at Moubhandar.

“The board of directors of the company has sanctioned Rs 47 crore for necessary repairs and maintenance of the processing plant. Such a shutdown will take place after a gap of four years,” he said.

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