Securing India's Copper Supply

The document outlines the critical role of copper in India's infrastructure and clean energy transition, predicting a potential doubling of demand by 2030. It recommends a multi-pronged approach including diversifying primary supply through strategic partnerships with countries like Chile and Australia, reforming trade duties to support domestic smelting, and rationalizing the GST on copper scrap to promote a circular economy.

• India's demand for copper could double by the end of the current decade due to infrastructure development and the clean energy transition.
• To secure primary copper supply, India should pursue strategic partnerships with supplier nations including Australia, Chile, Peru, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while simultaneously promoting domestic sustainable mining and exploration.
• The government should reform the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on copper scrap, either by lowering the rate or using the Reverse Charge Mechanism, to encourage tax compliance and formalize the unorganized recycling sector.
• India needs to evaluate trade agreements and duties, specifically considering the extension of countervailing duties expiring in 2025 and the potential reduction of custom duties on copper ore and concentrate to boost domestic smelting and refining.
• Domestic copper smelters and fabricators should be supported through capital or production-linked incentives tied to material efficiency, circularity, and copper quality standards.

APA

Moerenhout,, S. R. (2024). Securing India's Copper Supply. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/securing-india-copper-supply

Chicago

Moerenhout,, Swasti Raizada,Tom. Securing India's Copper Supply. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/securing-india-copper-supply.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Moerenhout, |first1=Swasti Raizada,Tom |title=Securing India's Copper Supply |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2 July 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/securing-india-copper-supply |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{moerenhout2024securing, author = {Moerenhout,, Swasti Raizada,Tom}, title = {{Securing India's Copper Supply}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/securing-india-copper-supply}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }