POCL to add copper cathode capacity through 200 crore recycling project
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- POCL to add 36,000 mtpa copper cathode capacity
- Recycled copper push supports India's import substitution
Pondy Oxides and Chemicals Ltd (POCL) has approved the establishment of a copper recycling plant at Thervoykandigai, Tamil Nadu, with an estimated investment of 200 crore, as the company looks to expand its value-added non-ferrous recycling portfolio and strengthen its copper presence.
POCL, one of India's prominent secondary metal recyclers, has been steadily increasing its focus on value-added products and operational efficiency. The company reported a strong FY'26 performance, with Q4 net profit rising 111% y-o-y to 38 crore, while full-year net profit stood at 139 crore. Copper contributed 23% to the company's FY'26 sales mix, indicating its growing strategic importance within the business.
The proposed facility will have an installed capacity of 36,000 metric tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LME Grade A copper cathode, to be implemented in two phases of 18,000 mtpa each, with commissioning targeted on or before December 2026. The project will be funded entirely through internal accruals.
The plant will utilize integrated pyro-refining and electro-refining technology to manufacture internationally benchmarked LME Grade A copper cathodes for both domestic and export markets.
The capacity addition comes at a time when India's refined copper market continues to face supply constraints amid rising downstream demand from sectors such as electricals, renewables, infrastructure, and electric vehicles, keeping the country reliant on imports to bridge the gap.
For POCL, the project marks a strategic move to strengthen vertical integration in non-ferrous recycling through higher-margin copper offerings, while leveraging its existing recycling expertise. The addition is also expected to support Indias circular economy goals by promoting recycled copper usage, reducing import dependence, and lowering the carbon footprint compared with primary copper production.
