Sesa Sterlite, which plans to double the output at its copper smelting unit in Tuticorin, will attract investments from companies that will utilise its by-products.

Addressing a group of media persons on a visit organised by the company to the Sterlite Copper plant, P. Ramnath, CEO of the 4 lakh-tonnes-a-year copper smelting unit, said that apart from copper, the factory produces a range of products such as sulphuric acid (over 12 lakh tonnes) and phosphoric acid (2.30 lakh tonnes), and by-products such as slag (7 lakh tonnes), gypsum (11.50 lakh tonnes) and ferro sand.

These form the inputs for a range of industries including fertilisers, cement, fly ash, gypsum board and abrasives. Once Sterlite implements its expansion plans, the output of the by-products will double.

The Vedanta Group company has finalised plans to double capacity. However, the implementation will depend on the outcome of a case pending before the Madras High Court, relating to the conduct of public hearing for the project.

Ramnath said as of now the by-products are being utilised by a range of industries. But with increased output the company hopes to attract user industries to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

The company has invested over Rs 500 crore in environment measures including achieving zero liquid discharge status, meaning it recycles water and does not let out untreated effluents.

Green measures

Its emissions are monitored continuously and the monitoring systems are linked online to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board’s Care Air Centre.

It has also commissioned a fence line monitoring system to keep track of the air quality along the boundary of the factory.

(The writer was in Tuticorin at the invitation of Sesa Sterlite.)

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