(a) whether India has become net importer of copper for the last three years;
(b) if so, the reasons for reduction in the production of copper along with the total production of copper during the last five years; and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to re-start the closed copper factories at the earliest?
THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)
(a): The import of refined copper has increased from 44245 tonnes in 2017-18 to 92290 tonnes and 151964 tonnes in 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively, whereas export declined from 378555 tonnes in 2017-18 to 47917 tonnes and 36959 tonnes in 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively. Consequently, there was net import of 44373 tonnes and 115005 tonnes in 2018-19 and 2019-20 respectively, whereas there was a net export of 334310 tonnes in 2017-18.
(b): Tuticorin smelter in Tamil Nadu, which has annual capacity of 4 lakh tonnes of refined copper, is closed since May 2018. Closure of the plant has affected the domestic production of refined copper. The details of last five years (2015-16 to 2019-20) refined copper production in the Country are as under:
(Quantity in Million Tonnes)
Year 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20
Qty Qty Qty Qty Qty
Production 0.79 0.79 0.83 0.45 0.41
(c): During the above period domestic production declined largely due to closure of a smelter since May, 2018, which has annual capacity of 4 lakh tonnes per annum. The matter relating to re-start production from Smelter plant of M/s Sterlite Copper (a Unit of Vedanta Ltd) is sub judice.
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