Tamil Nadu to SC: Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper not a national asset

livemint.com:

NEW DELHI : The Tamil Nadu government told the Supreme Court that Vedanta Ltd’s Sterlite Copper plant should not be considered a national asset or deemed necessary to reopen to fulfill the country’s copper demand. The state instead pointed to Adani Group’s forthcoming copper smelter plant in Gujarat as capable of fulfilling India’s copper demand. Since the Sterlite Copper plant in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi city was shut in 2018 following violent protests, India has transitioned from being a net exporter to a net importer of copper.

Prior to that, the plant contributed to nearly 40% of India’s copper demand. Its closure also impacted domestic fertilizer and chemical industries, leading to increased reliance on imports for key raw materials. The Tamil Nadu government opposed granting Vedanta any opportunity to reopen its plant in Thoothukudi, alleging that the company was a repeat offender and polluter.

The state argued there had been no loss to the regional economy due to the closure of the plant, pointing out that Thoothukudi is emerging as a new hub for the automobile industry. The local population also does not want the plant to reopen, Tamil Nadu government’s legal representatives told the Supreme Court. These remarks were made on Wednesday during Vedanta’s appeal against the closure of the plant by the Tamil Nadu government, before a 3-judge bench led by Chief Justice D.Y.

Chandrachud. The state government also objected to the Supreme Court’s suggestion for a committee to examine prospects for reviving the closed Vedanta plant. Senior lawyer C.