The copper operations at Sterlite have been significantly expanded.  A new furnace has been built at Tuticorin which will take capacity from 180,000 tpa to 300,000 tpa.  The expansion was completed in April 2005.

The smelter has been accompanied by the construction of a new refinery at Tuticorin.  Anode will be still be sent to Silvassa for conversion to cathode, but the new additional output will be treated at Tuticorin.  A new 90,000 tpa rod plant has been built at Tuticorin which will allow the production of rod at Tuticorin, easy for export directly from the port at Tuticorin.

A new 22.5MW power plant has been built to serve the new smelter, along with a new phosphoric acid plant.  These are already in operation. 

The total cost of the expansion is US$87m.  The use of the new plant should allow a further reduction in unit costs.