Aditya posts fall in copper output

Aditya Birla Minerals Ltd has recorded a 14 per cent drop in total copper output over the June quarter as it remains tight lipped over the impact the state's gas crisis has had on its operations.

Total copper production over the three months to June 30 was recorded at 16,255 tonnes, down from 18,806t reached in last year's corresponding period.

At its Nifty operation, Aditya said production was affected by low copper grades and the shutdown of parts of the plant for scheduled maintenance and upgrades.

Meanwhile at its Mt Gordon operation, the company said the lower production was due to a decline in copper grades.

There was no mention of whether the gas crisis, caused by a pipeline rupture at the Varanus Island gas facility in June, had contributed to a decline in production.

Last month, the company issued three notices to the stock market notifying that there had been a temporary interruption of gas supply to its Nifty operation.

The company confirmed that it uses gas produced from Varanus Island to power electricity and had converted to an alternative power generating system to overcome the interruption.

It said it had contracted an alternate gas provider for the supply of gas from the end of June to the end of September this year.

"This will help to partially mitigate the additional costs associated with the use of diesel for generating power at the Nifty copper operations throughout this interruption," Aditya previously said.