Vedanta Writes To Health Ministry, TN Govt; Offers Medical Oxygen Supply Through Non-Operational Sterlite Copper Plant

The Vedanta group has written to the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami, and the chief secretary of the southern state offering to deliver oxygen from its closed Sterlite copper plant at Thootukudi in Tamil Nadu.

The plant apparently hosts two oxygen plants that together have a capacity to produce 1050 tonnes of oxygen on a daily basis. In fact, the company has already registered a plea that outlines to offer the support in the Supreme Court.

In the letter, Vedanta mentioned that its staff is on course to make the two plants operational in the shortest possible time and thereby supply oxygen to areas that are currently critical as per the ministry’s direction.

Sterlite Copper CEO Pankaj Kumar stated, “We would like to now offer these facilities for your use towards ensuring that there is no lack of this vital commodity in the nation.”

Actually, the concerned plants are presently closed down owing to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) and the state government’s order directing the shutting down of the copper smelter unit of the company, the Hindu Business Line reports.

Vedanta reportedly will produce liquid gas and transfer it through tankers whereas it has recognized partners in Coimbatore to work on and supply the gaseous form of the commodity.