The Cloverdale-based Byrnecut, which is a world leader in underground mining, has opted out of the race to explore, develop and operate Hindustan Copper's Banwas mines in Rajasthan, owing to the ongoing financial turmoil and weak copper prices. The Australian company also lost interest after state-run Hindustan Copper delayed the selection process for almost a year.
"There has been significant material changes in the industry since the date of our original submission (December, 2007) due to the global downturn and fall in copper prices," Mr Steve Coughlan, MD, Byrnecut Patrice jersey green Mining, told ET in an e-mailed response.
The Hindustan Copper's tender in December had brought in global leaders such as Oxiana, Anglo American, Lundin Mining and India Resources, apart from Byrnecut, to bid for the operation of the Banwas copper mine in Rajasthan's Jhunjhunu district. The Banwas deposit is estimated to have about 25 million tonnes in reserves with 1.69% copper content.
A Hindustan Copper spokesperson declined to comment on the issue. It has also been learnt that Byrnecut was scheduled to invest Rs 500 crore to develop the mine and also for the beneficiation of resources.
As per the
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