In a significant development for India’s critical minerals and manufacturing sectors, LOHUM has secured the rights from Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) to restart, modernize and operate the 50,000-tonne-per-annum copper facility at Jhagadia, Gujarat. The project will be executed under a 20-year revenue-sharing agreement, with an option to extend the partnership for an additional five years.
The Letter of Award was formally presented by the leadership of Hindustan Copper Limited, marking the beginning of a collaboration aimed at enhancing domestic copper production and reducing dependence on imports for a metal that is central to India’s industrial and energy transition.
Following modernization, the facility is expected to produce Grade-A copper cathodes with a purity level of 99.9997 percent, meeting stringent international standards. The output will support growing demand from sectors including power transmission, renewable energy, electronics, electric mobility, construction and advanced manufacturing.
Copper has emerged as one of the most strategically important materials in the global economy. The rapid expansion of solar energy, electric vehicles, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence-driven data centres is driving unprecedented demand. Industry estimates indicate that each megawatt of solar generation capacity requires significant quantities of copper, while electric vehicles consume substantially more copper than conventional automobiles. The growth of data centres and advanced electronics manufacturing is adding another major demand driver.
India’s copper consumption has been rising steadily, supported by infrastructure expansion, industrial growth and clean energy investments. The revival of a large-scale refining asset is expected to strengthen domestic supply chains, generate employment opportunities and improve the country’s resource security.
The partnership combines HCL’s position as India’s only vertically integrated copper producer with LOHUM’s expertise in refining, advanced materials and circular economy solutions. Industry observers view the initiative as a model for collaboration between public sector enterprises and private industry to unlock dormant industrial assets and create long-term strategic value.
LOHUM Founder and Chief Executive Officer Rajat Verma said the project represents an opportunity to increase domestic production using existing infrastructure while supporting national priorities related to manufacturing growth and self-reliance.
The initiative aligns closely with the Government of India’s National Critical Mineral Mission and broader efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities in sectors essential to economic development and technological advancement.
Lohum currently operates eight facilities, including India’s largest lithium and cobalt refineries in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and one in Gujarat. The company is also developing two additional sites in South India and expanding internationally with joint ventures in the United States and Sharjah (UAE), with plans for further expansion in the European Union.
