Vedanta strikes Madras HC as TNPCB rejects its ‘Inexperienced Copper’ proposal at Thoothukudi Sterlite plant – Company Technique & Outlook

Vedanta submitted an software to the TNPCB on January 9, searching for the CTO, however the board rejected it on January 27

The Tamil Nadu Air pollution Management Board (TNPCB) has refused to problem a ‘consent to function’ (CTO) to multinational enterprise conglomerate Vedanta Ltd for establishing a ‘inexperienced copper’ plant on the Thoothukudi Sterlite plant premises, which has remained non-functional since 2018. The corporate has, subsequently, approached the Madras Excessive Courtroom with a plea to quash the rejection order.

Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan on Wednesday (February 11, 2026) directed Extra Advocate Common (AAG) J Ravindran to get directions by February 26 concerning the structure of an knowledgeable committee to check the potential of allowing the ‘inexperienced copper’ facility. Vedanta submitted an software to the TNPCB on January 9, searching for the CTO, however the board rejected it on January 27.

Assailing the rejection order, senior counsel Satish Parasaran, assisted by Rahul Balaji, contended that the applying had been rejected in an arbitrary method with out offering advance discover or a chance for listening to to his shopper. “This displays a pre-determined and prejudicial method in the direction of the petitioner and subsequently, the rejection order is ex-facie arbitrary, unlawful, and untenable,” he argued.

So as to guarantee a good and neutral adjudication of Vedanta’s functions/proposal for establishing the ‘inexperienced copper’ facility, the counsel urged the Bench to order the structure of a court-monitored multidisciplinary knowledgeable committee, comprising representatives of the State authorities in addition to the Centre, together with unbiased consultants in related fields, to look at the proposal independently, comprehensively, and scientifically.

Till the disposal of its essential writ petition, Vedanta additionally sought an interim route to the TNPCB to allow the petitioner to have restricted and conditional entry to the Sterlite Copper facility in Thoothukudi in order that it may perform preparatory and operational actions for the scientific evaluation. The interim actions is also supervised, monitored, and managed by a court-appointed committee, it mentioned.

However, opposing the writ petition filed by Vedanta, the AAG mentioned: “They’re attempting to pour outdated wine into a brand new bottle and name it inexperienced copper.” He mentioned, the corporate should have gone on statutory attraction towards the board’s order as an alternative of submitting a writ petition. He additionally said that safety of atmosphere was extra vital than the financial elements, which the corporate was stressing upon.

Nonetheless, Parasaran mentioned solely a committee comprising consultants from the Union Ministry of Setting and Forests, the Central Air pollution Management Board, and different such our bodies would have the ability to give unbiased thought to the proposal. “If the consultants say that the business ought to perish, let it perish. But when they are saying it may be revived, let it’s revived. Let the TNPCB not method the problem with a stone wall,” he added.

Vedanta’s affidavit

In its affidavit, Vedanta contended that the TNPCB’s rejection order doesn’t mirror any real statutory analysis of the ‘inexperienced copper’ proposal, however rests on a essentially “flawed” premise that previous regulatory actions and earlier judicial proceedings function as an inaccurate assumption that previous operations foreclose even the consideration of a re-engineered and environmentally superior facility.

The corporate claimed that the TNPCB had did not take word the crucial nationwide in addition to international demand for copper, its standing as a strategic useful resource, and the rising pattern of useful resource nationalism. It mentioned, the inexperienced copper’ facility would assist increase home copper manufacturing, whereas prioritising sustainability because the eco-friendly course of can be distinct from earlier copper-smelting processes.

Vedanta additionally identified that it had filed a writ petition in January this yr searching for a route to the State authorities to think about its ‘inexperienced copper’ proposal, which might utilise an environmentally superior course of designed to be an exemplar of sustainable and accountable business. Whereas passing interim orders in that petition, the court docket had permitted the corporate to submit functions to statutory authorities.

Subsequently, Vedanta had utilized to the TNPCB for the issuance of a CTO on January 9 nevertheless it was rejected on January 27, forcing the group to file a contemporary writ petition difficult the rejection order.

What’s ‘inexperienced copper’?

Explaining the advantages of ‘inexperienced copper,’ the corporate informed the court docket that the time period refers to copper produced with a considerably decrease carbon footprint as compared with standard smelting processes. The discount can be achieved by maximising the usage of recycled copper as enter. “Utilizing recycled copper minimises the necessity for copper focus processing, which was the first supply of slag technology in smelting operation,” it mentioned.

Other than the projected discount of 15 per cent in slag technology, roughly 40 per cent of discount was anticipated in hazardous waste technology, too. By means of the utilisation of 30 per cent recycled enter, the proposed inexperienced copper plant was projected to attain 34 per cent discount in carbon footprint as a result of much less fossil gasoline can be consumed within the energy-intensive smelting and changing processes, Vedanta claimed.

“Moreover, round the clock renewable power can be utilised for hybrid operations. The suspension of the phosphoric acid plant and adoption of superior air and water administration applied sciences will additional minimise environmental affect and allow the corporate to supply copper cathode with lower than 0.9 kg of CO₂ emissions per kg of copper, i.e., about 50 per cent lower than the worldwide common,” its affidavit learn.

Revealed on February 11, 2026