March 16 (Bloomberg) -- Copper demand in India may triple in the next decade as the country's economy and population expand, said Patrick Hurens, secretary general of the International Copper Study Group. ``India could become the next key country for copper,'' Hurens said at a conference in Paris organized by Metal Bulletin. China's demand for the metal, used to make pipes and electrical wiring, helped push prices up 48 percent last year in London. Copper demand in India may rise by 1 million metric tons a year, Hurens said. The country's use totaled as much as 480,000 tons in the fiscal year ending in 2002, with its production at about 462,000 tons, he said. India's economy is forecast to grow as much as 8 percent next year, Hurens said. Its population will climb to 1.5 billion from 1.1 billion today, according to the United Nations, boosting demand for goods that contain copper, such as air conditioners and cars.
