Sterlite moves Madras High Court after TNPCB rejects green copper plan | Company News
After the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) rejected Vedanta’s proposal to set up a ‘Green Copper’ plant on the premises of the Thoothukudi Sterlite plant, the company approached the Madras High Court seeking to set aside the rejection order. The facility has been out of operation since 2018.
The Madras High Court on Wednesday asked TNPCB and other respondents to file their responses to a writ petition challenging the rejection of the company’s application, the statement said. The matter was heard by the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice Arul Murugan in Vedanta’s writ petition challenging TNPCB’s rejection of its application for ‘Certificate to Operate’ (CTO).
Speaking on behalf of Vedanta, Senior Advisor Satish Parasaran argued that the rejection decision did not take into account fundamental differences between the previous smelting operations and the newly proposed Green Copper project. He stated that the application was “mechanically” rejected without scientific or technical evaluation of the new proposal. There needs to be an opportunity to explain the benefits of Green Copper and how it is sustainable.
The Green Copper initiative, as presented before the court, was designed as a transformative hybrid production model that combines the production of 70 percent primary copper with the use of 30 percent recycled copper.
The project proposes the use of advanced emission control systems aimed at exceeding current global standards, significantly reducing emissions, minimizing waste and improving both water and energy efficiency. The company has also established a framework to transform the facility into a net water positive facility.
Highlighting the national importance of copper production, Vedanta said the project is in line with the Union Ministry of Mines’ “copper vision” to strengthen domestic production, especially to meet the growing demand from sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy. It was also emphasized that before the closure of the Sterlite facility, India was an exporter of copper, but after the closure, it became a net importer.
Vedanta has asked for an independent expert committee to be formed to examine the proposal scientifically. The company urged the Court to consider appointment of experts from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Ministry of Mines to conduct a detailed technical assessment.
