(THE NEWSMAN OF INDIA.COM) State-owned Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) has reported a strong performance in the fourth quarter of FY25, posting a 51.8 per cent year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit at ₹189.48 crore, compared to ₹124.75 crore in the same quarter last year. The company announced its Q4 financial results through a regulatory filing.

The company’s consolidated income for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, rose significantly to ₹777.28 crore, up from ₹585.22 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. Total expenses during the quarter also increased to ₹518.75 crore, as against ₹401.49 crore in Q4 of the previous fiscal.

Hindustan Copper, a Mini-Ratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Mines, is the only government-owned company in India engaged in the full range of copper production activities, including mining, beneficiation, smelting, refining, and manufacturing of continuous cast copper rods. It holds all the operating mining leases for copper ore in the country and plays a vital role in the domestic copper supply chain.

The company has mining operations at Malanjkhand in Madhya Pradesh, Khetri in Rajasthan, and Ghatsila in Jharkhand. Its primary smelter and refinery are located at Ghatsila, while secondary smelting and refining facilities are situated at Jhagadia in Gujarat. It also operates a continuous cast wire rod manufacturing plant at Taloja in Maharashtra.

In a key announcement, the Board of Directors recommended a final dividend of ₹1.46 per equity share of face value ₹5 each for FY25, subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). The date of dividend payment will be communicated following its approval in the AGM.

Additionally, the Board has proposed to seek shareholder approval for raising up to ₹500 crore through the issuance of secured or unsecured non-convertible debentures or bonds on a private placement basis, to support its future funding needs.

Operationally, the company continues to face challenges at some of its facilities. The smelting and refining units at Jhagadia and Ghatsila have remained non-operational since 2019 due to business considerations. Meanwhile, activities at the Taloja plant are currently confined to third-party tolling services.

As of March 31, 2025, Hindustan Copper’s authorised capital stood at ₹1,100 crore, with a paid-up capital of ₹483.51 crore. The Government of India retains a 66.14 per cent equity stake in the company.