Jamshedpur: Union Minister of State for Coal and Mines, Satish Chandra Dubey, inaugurated the resumption of operations at the Surda Copper Mine today, marking a major milestone in India’s efforts toward self-reliance in copper production. The event was attended by several key dignitaries, including Ramdas Soren, Jharkhand’s Minister of Water Resources, Higher Education, and Technical Education, and Bidyut Varan Mahato, Member of Parliament from Jamshedpur. Senior officials from both the Central and State Government, along with Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL) Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Ghanshyam Sharma, were also present.
In his address, Satish Chandra Dubey highlighted the importance of resuming operations at Surda Mine, emphasizing its role in boosting India’s copper production. “The resumption of Surda Mine is a significant step toward making the nation self-reliant in copper,” he said, noting that the mine’s operation is expected to generate employment and revitalize the local economy. The project is projected to yield around Rs 100 crore in annual revenue. Additionally, HCL has outlined plans to increase the mine’s capacity from the current 0.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to 0.9 mtpa over the next seven years.
The Minister also announced the forthcoming reopening of the Kendadih and Rakha mines, following recent lease extensions approved by the Jharkhand Cabinet. These reopenings are expected to create 2,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs, significantly boosting copper production at HCL’s Indian Copper Complex.
HCL CMD, Ghanshyam Sharma, echoed the positive impact of the Surda Mine resumption, stating that it will provide direct employment to approximately 1,100 people and indirect employment to another 5,000 local residents. In addition to job creation, the restart of mining activities is expected to enhance corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts and welfare activities in surrounding villages. HCL has committed a capital investment of Rs 50 crore for mining operations in the 2024-25 fiscal year.