Vedanta opposes oxygen production at Sterlite

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, Vedanta Limited has contended that running of the plant by the state is likely to pose a grave danger not only to the assets but to the workers deployed for production. It also said that around 45 trained employees with an experience of at least 10 years would be required to run the plant.

New Delhi: Vedanta Limited has filed a petition in the Supreme Court on Monday opposing the proposal for producing oxygen in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin based plant. It contended that the expertise of engineers is required to operate the plant and the state government doesn't have the expertise.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the mining company has contended that running of the plant by the state "is likely to pose a grave danger not only to the assets but to the workers deployed for production, as the process critically involves the operation of high-pressure vessels, heavy-duty compressors, high voltage equipment and proprietary control system".

It said that around 45 trained employees, who have experience of at least 10 years would be required to run the plant.

Moreover, the state also won't be able to support the operation financially, Vedanta said.

The affidavit has come in response to the case pertaining to the reopening of the Vedanta Sterlite plant to produce oxygen for medical purposes in the wake of a surge in Covid 19 cases. Earlier, Tamil Nadu had opposed Vedanta's plea but the court had asked it to file a reply as the situation is grim and the country needs oxygen.

The case is likely to be heard on 27th April.

The Tamil Nadu government had ordered the closure of the copper smelter plant in 2018 following a violent protest that led to the death of 13 persons in police firing.

The 400,000 tonne Sterlite copper smelter plant has been operating in Tuticorin for over 25 years with a cumulative investment of about Rs 3,000 crore.