State-run Hindustan Copper Ltd has secured the Baghwari-Khirkhori Copper and Associated Mineral Block in Madhya Pradesh after submitting the highest final price offer in a forward e-auction.
The Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Mines was declared the preferred bidder for a composite licence covering the mineral block, with the auction process concluding on 22nd January.
The company participated in response to a tender from the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Government of Madhya Pradesh, dated 31 October 2025.
Official communication regarding the preferred bidder status was issued recently through an exchange filing.
The composite licence encompasses both mining lease rights and operational permissions for the copper block, which also contains associated minerals.
This acquisition strengthens Hindustan Copper’s position as India’s only vertically integrated copper producer and sole company engaged in copper ore mining.
The firm already operates major mining sites at Malanjkhand in Madhya Pradesh, Khetri in Rajasthan, and Ghatsila in Jharkhand.
The Baghwari-Khirkhori block win aligns with the company’s broader expansion strategy, as it works to increase mine production capacity from current levels to 12.2 million tonnes per annum by fiscal year 2030-31.
Madhya Pradesh holds approximately 23 per cent of India’s copper ore reserves and remains a strategic state for the country’s copper mining operations.
The Baghwari-Khirkhori block is located in Sidhi district and has undergone reconnaissance surveys for copper, lead, zinc, graphite and associated minerals.
Hindustan Copper’s win showcases its strategic role in India’s mineral resource auctions as the nation seeks to reduce dependence on copper imports and boost domestic production capacity to meet rising demand from infrastructure, electric vehicles and renewable energy sectors.