Vedanta has two copper businesses, the first based in India and the second at Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia, which was acquired in November 2004.

The copper business in India is held within Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd.  There is some captive copper mining, but the business is principally in smelting and refining.  Sterlite produces finished copper in the form of cathode some of which is then converted to copper rod.  The initial process is carried out at the smelter, based at Tuticorin in southern India, and there are refineries and copper rod plants at Tuticorin and Silvassa, in western India.  Sterlite owns two copper mines in Australia which supplied around 11% of Sterlite's copper concentrate requirements in 2005-06.  One of the mines was closed in July 2005.    In May 2005 a new 300,000 tpa smelter was commissioned.  This replaced the previous smelter which had capacity of 180,000 tpa.

Silvassa is well placed to serve the Indian industrial markets.  Tuticorin, being a port, is accessible for the import of concentrate and for the export of finished copper.  For 2005-06, Sterlite had a domestic market share of some 43% of copper sales. In 2005-06, 61% of Sterlite's copper cathode production was processed into copper rods and 64% of Sterlite's net sales came from exports. The business has a strong track record at increasing production and reducing unit costs.

KCM is an integrated operation in Zambia, comprising underground and open pit mines, a leaching plant and smelting and refining facilities.  The capacity is around 250,000 tpa.

If you would like further information on products, employment or to tender for contracts please go to Sterlite Industries or KCM .