Thoothukudi: Minor leak at Sterlite copper smelter

Leak happens almost a month after Sterlite shutdown violence

sterlite-reuters A private security guard stands in front of the main gate of Sterlite Industries Ltd's copper plant, a unit of London-based Vedanta Resources, in Thoothukudi | Reuters

A minor leak has been detected in the sulphuric acid storage plant in Vedanta’s copper smelter in Thoothukudi, a government official said on Sunday, about a month after the state ordered its shutdown after protests in which 13 people died. 

“A leakage was observed in the sulphuric acid storage plant. It doesn’t look problematic, but we have decided to evacuate the storage tomorrow (Monday) as a safety precaution,” Sandeep Nanduri, district collector, said on Sunday.

Vedanta, the Indian subsidiary of Vedanta Resources PLC which operates the smelter, did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

Police opened fire on a crowd of protesters on May 22 calling for the shutdown on the grounds of pollution. The Tamil Nadu state government then ordered a permanent shutdown.

The smelter accounted for over a third of India’s refined copper output, and India is set to see a rise in copper imports following the shutdown.

Sulphuric acid, a corrosive byproduct of smelting, is used by fertiliser and chemical companies as a raw material.