Watch: Sterlite Copper begins medical oxygen production, dispatches first batch

• Sterlite Copper has commenced production of medical oxygen at its facility in Tamil Nadu. The Vedanta Ltd-owned smelter plant dispatched the first batch of medical oxygen on Thursday. Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant was given approval by the erstwhile AIADMK govt on April 26. Sterlite Copper will produce medical oxygen at its facility in Tuticorin for four months. The unit was sealed by the state govt in May 2018 following the death of protestors. At least 13 agitators were killed in police-firing during a violent anti-Sterlite stir. The agitators were part of a protest against the company over environmental concerns. Vedanta Resources Ltd Chairman Anil Agarwal expressed gratitude to the judiciary and administration for their support. Company will initially dispatch two oxygen tankers daily & gradually scale up production. Sterlite claimed the oxygen supplied is of 98.6% purity & has necessary certifications. Like many other states, Tamil Nadu has also recently been witnessing a surge in Covid cases.