(a) the steps taken by the Government to make the copper project, Khetari (Rajasthan) profitable and to bail it out from loss;
(b) the number of workers given voluntary retirement during the last three years; and
(c) the number of personnels/workers working under this project at present?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF MINES (DR. DASARI NARAYANA RAO)
(a) Khetri Copper Complex (KCC) comprises of two underground mines namely, Kolihan Mine and Khetri Mine, a beneficiation plant and a smelter with capacity of producing 31,000 tons of refined copper per annum. The unit had been incurring losses for quite some time mainly due to low productivity of underground mine, lower copper content in the concentrate, low LME price of copper, etc. which affected the viability of underground mines as a whole. However, with higher LME price of copper and improved performance, KCC has posted positive gross margin for the first time after a gap of more than 7 years in 2004. The company with the assistance provided by Government on account of replacement and renewal of old plant and machinery have taken all possible steps to improve the viability of the unit by overhauling and repair of the smelter and by procurement of machinery and equipment required for mining and beneficiation plant. The manpower of KCC has also been rationalized in a planned way.
(b) 2240 employees have been separated from KCC on Voluntary retirement since 2001-02 as per details given below:-
Year At Khetri Copper Project
Officer Worker Total
2001-02 128 802 930 2002-03 75 746 821 2003-04 25 437 462 2004-05 (Upto Nov., 04) 6 21 27
(c) There are 3105 employees on the rolls of Khetri Copper Complex as on 30.11.2004 as per details given below:-
Officers - 317 Workmen - 2788 TOTAL: - 3105