Proposed partnership for the Kaburkaala project aims to connect Chile’s copper resources with Adani’s integrated copper smelter complex at Mundra, Gujarat.
Ahmedabad/Santiago: Kutch Copper Limited (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited, and Chile’s state-owned copper producer Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (Codelco) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish key terms for a potential strategic exploration partnership at the Kaburkaala copper project in Chile.
Located in the Calama copper belt of the Antofagasta Region in northern Chile, the project is situated in one of the world’s prominent copper-producing districts. The proposed collaboration aims to connect Chilean copper resources with Adani’s integrated copper smelter complex at Mundra, Gujarat, supporting the development of a globally diversified copper value chain.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Jeet Adani, Director, Kutch Copper Ltd; Dr. Vinay Prakash, CEO, Adani Natural Resources; and Bernardo Fontaine, Chairman of the Board, Codelco, during LME Week 2026 in London.
Commenting on the partnership, Jeet Adani, Director, KCL, said the collaboration represents a long-term investment in India’s resource security. He highlighted copper’s growing importance in renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure and technology, adding that access to global resources would help strengthen supply-chain resilience.
Bernardo Fontaine, Chairman of the Board, Codelco, said the MoU marks an important step in the engagement between the two companies and reflects Codelco’s approach to creating value from its exploration portfolio through partnerships while safeguarding the long-term interests of the company and the State of Chile.
Strengthening the global copper value chain
For Adani, the proposed partnership is a strategic step towards building an integrated and globally diversified copper value chain. It is expected to link upstream resources in Chile with the company’s copper smelter complex at Mundra and support long-term access to copper, a key mineral for electrification and the global energy transition.
For Codelco, the initiative aligns with its strategy of advancing exploration projects through public-private partnerships, sharing risks and accelerating the development of projects with potential.
The proposed collaboration would combine Adani’s capital, technology-led exploration and large-scale project execution capabilities with Codelco’s geological expertise and international experience. Both companies have emphasised responsible exploration, safety, environmental stewardship and long-term value creation.
Boost to India-Chile cooperation in critical minerals
The partnership also marks a step forward in India-Chile cooperation in the critical minerals sector, as both countries focus on strengthening resource security and supply-chain resilience.
Kutch Copper, a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, is developing a large single-location custom copper smelter complex at Mundra, Gujarat, using advanced technology and digitalisation to support India’s self-reliance in critical metals.
Codelco, headquartered in Santiago, is a state-owned enterprise of the Republic of Chile and one of the world’s largest copper producers, with mining operations across Chile.
The MoU establishes a framework for exploring the potential of the Kaburkaala project, with further progress dependent on the development of the proposed partnership.