Kutch Copper Ltd (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd, has become the first Indian copper producer to receive recognition under the international Copper Mark responsible production programme, following an independent assessment of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

The recognition, now administered by Veramark Assurance, formerly known as the Copper Mark, places the Gujarat-based company among international copper producers assessed against recognised standards for responsible production and mineral sourcing.

Kutch Copper completed independent assurance under the Copper Mark Responsible Production Framework and the Joint Due Diligence Standard. The assessment covers business practices linked to environmental protection, workers’ welfare, human rights, responsible sourcing and other areas of corporate responsibility.

The announcement was made in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. KCL operates a copper smelting and refining complex at Mundra in Gujarat and is part of Adani Enterprises, the flagship incubating company of the Adani Group.

The recognition comes as India prepares for a sharp rise in copper consumption, driven by electricity networks, renewable energy projects, electric vehicles, construction and manufacturing. Copper plays an important role in power transmission because of its ability to conduct electricity efficiently. It is also widely used in electrical equipment, industrial machinery, telecommunications and electronic products.

Dr Vinay Prakash, CEO of Adani Natural Resources and Managing Director of KCL, said: “Achieving the Copper Mark, a first for any Indian producer, underscores our unwavering commitment to sustainable and responsible production. This milestone positions Kutch Copper among an elite group of leading global producers adhering to internationally recognised standards. As copper becomes increasingly vital to global electrification, renewable energy, modern mobility, and infrastructure, Kutch Copper is committed to delivering the high-quality metal India needs to power its future while adhering to the highest global standards of environmental and social stewardship.”

The Copper Mark organisation has since changed its name to Veramark Assurance. Its work covers responsible production and sourcing across the copper, nickel, zinc and other metal supply chains. The organisation uses independent assessments at individual production sites to check whether companies meet its requirements.

Under its Risk Readiness Assessment Criteria Guide, participating facilities are assessed against 33 criteria covering environmental, social and governance matters. These include areas such as human rights, labour practices, environmental management, health and safety, business conduct and responsible supply chains.

The assessment process also requires companies to address shortcomings identified during reviews. Where a facility only partly meets certain requirements, it must follow an improvement plan and undergo further independent assessment. Veramark requires participating sites to meet all the criteria within 24 months of signing up.

The Joint Due Diligence Standard adds another layer to the assessment. It covers responsible sourcing of copper, lead, molybdenum, nickel and zinc. It also helps companies meet the London Metal Exchange’s responsible sourcing requirements, which apply to listed metal brands. The standard was developed through cooperation between Veramark Assurance, the International Lead Association, the International Molybdenum Association, the International Zinc Association, the Nickel Institute and the Responsible Minerals Initiative.

Organisations using the Copper Mark programme include major international mining and metals companies such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Freeport-McMoRan, Antofagasta and Aurubis. The programme uses reassessments to check whether participating facilities continue to meet its requirements.

For Kutch Copper, the recognition comes during a period of expansion in India’s copper industry. The company’s manufacturing complex at Mundra has an installed capacity of 500,000 tonnes of refined copper annually, with plans to increase this to one million tonnes per year. Its operations also include the production of copper rods, precious metals and other industrial by-products.

Adani Enterprises has developed the facility as a greenfield copper smelting and refining project. Its location at Mundra provides access to sea, road and rail transport, which are important for bringing in copper-bearing raw materials and distributing finished products.

India’s growing requirement for copper has become a matter of industrial planning. The Union Ministry of Mines released the Copper Vision Document in July 2025, setting out a long-term plan for the country’s copper industry. The document estimated that domestic copper demand could increase sixfold by 2047. It also proposed adding five million tonnes per annum of smelting and refining capacity by 2030.

The plan places greater attention on domestic processing, copper recycling and securing supplies of raw materials from international markets. These steps are intended to reduce India’s dependence on imported finished copper and support industries that need a steady supply of the metal.

The International Copper Association India reported apparent copper usage of 1.878 million tonnes in the financial year 2024-25. Its assessment also found that secondary copper accounted for 42% of total demand, compared with 38% in the previous financial year. Secondary copper is recovered from scrap and reused in manufacturing, reducing the need to obtain all supplies from newly mined material.

The certification also relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12), which calls for responsible consumption and production. The goal encourages industries to use natural resources efficiently, reduce waste and improve production methods. For metal producers, this includes responsible sourcing of raw materials, better management of industrial waste and the responsible use of resources throughout manufacturing.

The recognition gives Kutch Copper an independent assessment that it can present to international customers, investors and supply chain partners seeking information about how their raw materials are produced. Such assessments are becoming relevant as manufacturers face greater demands to explain the origin of metals and the standards followed at production facilities.

However, the award should be understood within the scope of the standards used. It records the facility’s performance against specified requirements. It does not, by itself, establish that every environmental or social concern associated with copper production has been eliminated.

With India’s copper consumption expected to rise over the coming decades, domestic producers’ ability to meet international sourcing and production requirements will remain an important consideration for the industry. Kutch Copper’s recognition places an Indian producer within an international assurance programme at a time when the country is planning a major increase in its copper processing capacity.

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