Adani Enterprises subsidiary Kutch Copper has signed an MoU with Chile’s state-owned Codelco to explore a strategic partnership for the Kaburkaala copper project in northern Chile. The proposed collaboration could help secure long-term copper supplies for India’s renewable energy, EV, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors.
New Delhi, November 12 — Adani Enterprises’ subsidiary Kutch Copper Ltd (KCL) and Chilean state-owned copper producer Codelco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a strategic partnership for developing the Kaburkaala copper project in northern Chile.
The proposed collaboration is aimed at strengthening long-term access to critical mineral resources required for India’s growing industrial and energy needs.
The project is located in the Calama copper belt in Chile’s Antofagasta region, one of the world’s major copper-producing districts.
Adani to bring capital and technology
Under the proposed exploration partnership, Adani is expected to bring capital, technology-led exploration capabilities and project execution expertise.
Codelco, meanwhile, would contribute its geological knowledge and international mining experience.
The agreement outlines key terms for a potential exploration partnership, although the source does not disclose the investment amount or a timeline for development.
The MoU was signed during LME Week 2026 in London in the presence of Kutch Copper Director Jeet Adani, Adani Natural Resources CEO Vinay Prakash and Codelco Chairman Bernardo Fontaine.
Link with Mundra copper smelter
The proposed partnership is strategically significant for Adani as the group seeks to build an integrated and globally diversified copper value chain.
The plan could connect upstream copper resources in Chile with Kutch Copper’s downstream operations in India.
Kutch Copper is developing a large integrated custom copper smelter complex at Mundra in Gujarat, designed to support India’s domestic copper requirements.
Jeet Adani said securing access to global copper resources could help strengthen supply-chain resilience for industries including renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure and technology.
Copper demand rising globally
Copper is becoming increasingly important as countries invest in electrification and clean-energy infrastructure.
The metal is a critical raw material for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, power infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
For India, access to overseas copper resources could become particularly important as the country expands domestic processing capacity while trying to reduce vulnerabilities in critical-mineral supply chains.
For Codelco, the proposed partnership forms part of its strategy to unlock value from exploration assets through public-private partnerships, share investment risks and accelerate projects with development potential.
Codelco Chairman Bernardo Fontaine said the agreement demonstrates the company’s ability to attract international partners to develop its exploration portfolio.
If the partnership moves forward, it could give Adani greater access to upstream copper resources while providing Codelco with capital and large-scale project execution capabilities.
