Copper is one of the most used metals, which is malleable, soft and ductile with high electrical and thermal conductivity. It is reckoned amongst one of the few metals that occur in nature in a directly usable metallic form. It is a native and important non-ferrous base metal with wide industrial applications, including defence, space programmes, power cables, telecommunication cables, railways, etc. India is not self-reliant in the manufacture of copper ore. Furthermore, for the domestic manufacture of ore and concentrates, India exports concentrates for the sopper smelters business from other countries. The national quota for copper and its alloys is met through domestic production, scrap recycling and imports.
In the recent survey on the market demand for copper, the demand has been estimated to be 2.3 million tonnes seeing the economic growth and rise in demand for the metal. To meet future demand, the copper industry has been geared up now. The supply estimate of 2.8 million tonnes by 2024-25 will content the domestic demand in supplement to the export demand.
The Electrical/Electronic industry is the largest consumer of copper, used in the form of cables and winding wires. It is the most useful non-precious metal. Also, copper is an excellent conductor of electricity because it needs much less resistance and is harmless for electrical distribution systems, from high-voltage transmission cables to micro-circuits. Copper also has relatively high creep strength compared to other commonly used materials. Keeping these properties in mind, it won’t be wrong to say that the copper smelter business in India is anticipated to flourish at a high rate.
Semiconductor manufacturers have launched a revolutionary ‘copper chip’ in the electronic industry. Microprocessors can operate at higher speeds using less energy by using copper for circuitry in silicon chips. Copper heatsinks eliminate heat from transistors and permit computer speeds to consume less energy and processors to function at peak capability. Copper is used in construction as taps, valves, fittings, and plumbing. Along with this, copper is used in Transportation Industry as various components. According to an approximation by the International Copper Study Group, most cars contain an average of 20 kg of copper. Also, luxury and hybrid vehicles contain around 45 kg of copper. All these stats give a clear picture of the future of the copper smelter business in India.
Sr.No. |
Steps |
Process |
1. |
Formulation of Copper Concentrate |
This is the first step implemented in the copper smelter business. Concentrates imported from overseas are separated into different storage bins by formulation quality. |
2. |
Flash smelting furnace |
The copper concentrates are transferred to the flash smelting furnace having oxygen-enriched air. CuFeS2 + SiO2 + O2 → Cu2S・FeS + 2FeO・SiO2 + SO2 + Reaction heat |
3. |
Converter Furnace |
After the flash smelting furnace, the matte produced during the process is transferred to the converter furnace. Cu2S・FeS + SiO2 + O2 → Cu + 2FeO・SiO2 + SO2 + Reaction heat |
4. |
Anode Furnace |
Butane gas is moved into the anode furnace as a reductant to eliminate the oxygen in the blister copper. |
5. |
Anode Casting Wheel |
The refined blister copper is cast into an anode plate for electrolytic refining. |
6. |
Refinery |
Refined copper in this process is achieved as a final product. |
The process for acquiring Consent NOC is directed under Air and Water Acts. CTE (Consent to Establish) is obtained by the owner of the Copper Smelter Business before the unit is established. For CTE, the smelter must register on the state department’s (State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee) official portal. He must upload the application as per Form I with the required documents. Once the authorities examine these documents, the SPCB/PCC grants the certification.
However, CTO (Consent to Operate) is attained after the copper smelter business is instituted and is ready to start manufacturing. For CTO, the procedure for getting a certificate is similar to the CTE. The business owner must register with the state authority (SPCB or PCC) on the official portal and upload the submission according to Form I with the required documents. After the authorities inspect these papers, the PCC or SPCB sends authorised personnel for the examination. The personnel, based on the inspection conducted, frames a report., The authorisation for operation is granted accordingly.
As per the Air and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts, for acquiring Consent to Establish from the State Pollution Control Board/Pollution Control Committee for a Copper Smelter Business, the owner must submit the following documents: –
GST certificate
According to the Air and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts, to acquire Consent to Operate from the SPCB/PCC for a Copper Smelter Business, the owner has to submit the following documents –
The registration relates to establishing a Copper Smelter Business that disposes of hazardous waste. This is prescribed under the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2015. For the authorisation for the plant, the smelter must apply under Form 1 to the concerned State Pollution Control Board.
Documents obligatory for Hazardous Waste Authorisation relating to Copper Smelter Business
The papers that are to be submitted mandatorily while applying for hazardous waste authorisation are: –
Documents required for establishing the company
MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) registration entails the owner of the Copper Smelter Businessapplying via the online portal of the regulating authority. In this case, it is the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The owner must then upload the mandated documents.
Documents needed for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Registration
For establishing the manufacturing units, the owner of the Copper Smelter Business must register their establishment under the Factories Act[1]. According to the Act, the producer is mandated to get a factory license, which the Chief Inspector of the Labour Commissioner Organisation grants after examining the business.
Documents needed by the Copper Smelter Business owner
For the Factory license, Copper Smelter Business owner requires the following documents: –
The Ministry of Commerce has mandated that every exporter and importer acquire an IEC Code. Also known as an Import Export code, it is a ten-digit code granted by the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) of the Ministry of Commerce. IEC has a distinct feature: it is a one-time authorisation and does not need renewal or new authorisation.
Documents required for Import Export Code registration
The Ministry of Commerce mandates the documents listed below for an Import Export Code registration-
Obtaining the fire NOC (No Objection Certificate) for Copper Smelter Business is unavoidable. It is mandated by the Local Municipality Authority and controlled by state authorities. This encompasses filing the application for NOC with the mandated documents, which will be scrutinised by the Chief Officer belonging to the Fire Service Department. The officer oversees the inspection of the business. After conducting the inspection, the report is framed and presented to the department, which grants a Fire NOC on further scrutiny.
Documents required for fire NOC for Copper Smelter Business
Document required for GST certificate for establishing Copper Smelter Business
Copper is widely used in India, from simple household products to big industries. Therefore, the Copper Smelter Business will prove very lucrative, especially in the current market. This is ensured by looking at the market where the demand is constantly increasing, given that the smelter has appropriate documents and authorisations granted by the state and central authorities.
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