Thoothukudi plant pauses O2 production after snag

Sterlite Copper’s Thoothukudi plant paused production on Friday after a ‘technical snag’ developed in the cold box of its oxygen plant. This came a day after the facility began production of medical oxygen and the first set of medical oxygen tankers was dispatched.

“A technical snag has developed in the cold box at our oxygen plant in Tuticorin, leading to a temporary pause in production,” the company said in a statement. It said, however, that such a ‘minor technical fluctuation’ was anticipated as the plant had been shut for three years. The company added that it would stabilise production soon.

After an all-party meeting, the previous AIADMK government had on April 26 approved production of medical oxygen at the facility for four months. This came after the Supreme Court had allowed the plant to reopen. Vedanta Ltd’s Sterlite unit was shut in May 2018 following violent protests and a police firing.