HCL to explore minerals in Chhattisgarh

The Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), a public sector enterprise, would explore minerals in the state with state-run Chhattisgarh Mineral Development Corporation (CMDC).

“The HCL and CMDC has reached an agreement and will form a joint venture company to explore mineral in the state,” Governor Shekhar Dutt said while addressing the inaugural day of the budget session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly today. The company would search for copper, base metals, and other minerals.

HCL, a public sector enterprise of the Government of India, has major operation in Malanjkhand of Madhya Pradesh on the border with Chhattisgarh. It has the distinction of being India's only vertically integrated copper producing company encompassing mining, beneficiation, smelting, refining and casting of refined copper metal.

The Governor said the state government had been working for the welfare of the people and had inked a deal with the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to develop iron-ore mine in Kabeerdham district. The mine would cater the raw material requirement of the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), the flagship entity of the SAIL.