[COVID-19 crisis] Vedanta's claim that it can produce 1050 MT Oxygen incorrect, Sterlite plant to re-open for now: TN Govt to Madras High Court

The Madras High Court's hearing in the suo motu case concerning COVID-19 management in Tamil Nadu took an interesting turn on Monday when the State government disputed Vedanta's claims before the Supreme Court as regards its potential to produce oxygen for medical use. .Advocate General Vijay Narayan, appearing for the State, told the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, "They have been telling the Supreme Court that they have 1050 MT per day capacity but that is, strictly speaking, not correct. It is 35 MT of liquid, 1050 MT of gaseous. The gaseous cannot be used at this moment.".He added that if the gaseous oxygen is to be put to use, it has to first be pumped into cylinders, for which it needs a compression technology and a bottling technology. A plant also needs to be set up for that purpose, the AG submitted. ."The time needed to set up a plant for that purpose is approximately nine months. If we put pressure and Government of India and Tamil Nadu grant all requests and permissions at the earliest and use our collective energies, it can be done in six months," he added. .The AG further contended that even if such a bottling plant is set up, there are logistical considerations to examine. "If bottling plant comes, individual cylinders have to be collected from hospitals in nearby districts brought to Sterlite, refilled on daily basis, taken back to hospitals, that process has to go day to day," he contended. .Therefore, this can only be done for nearby hospitals or it has to be procured in bulk, he added. .All the same, the AG told the Court that the State government has taken a practical decision this morning in the matter. As per reports, the State has decided to allow the re-opening of the Sterlite plant at Thoothukudi for a limited period. The decision has been endorsed by eight major political parties in the State as well, the AG told the Court. .In the afternoon session of the hearing, the AG added that Vedanta has informed the government on the steps it will take to ramp up the amount of liquid oxygen produced by it. "In the morning I had made a statement that Sterlite is capable of making 35 MT liquid oxygen...but the gaseous oxygen, they have now promised they will increase the liquefaction and convert a part of gaseous oxygen also into liquid oxygen," the AG submitted. .He added that Sterlite is also taking expeditious steps to install a plant for compression and bottling of oxygen. .The High Court, however, expressed that it is not inclined to delve too deep into the matter since this issue is now before the Supreme Court. It confined to recording in its order as follows:."Though such aspect of the matter is being exclusively being dealt with by Supreme Court, the State informs this Court that following an all party meeting convened by CM this morning, a tentative decision has been taken to allow the Thoothukudi (plant) of Sterlite industries to manufacture oxygen. State says that only only limited supply of oxygen may be initially available, but the owners have assured the State that immediate measures (are) to be put in place by which gaseous oxygen can be converted to liquid oxygen for medicinal use with the appropriate content in excess of 99% oxygen.".Meanwhile, Vedanta moved an application opposing a proposal of the Supreme Court to have the company's oxygen plant at Thoothukudi operated by the Tamil Nadu government to cater to needs amid the COVID-19 crisis..[BREAKING] "Beyond competence, ability of Tamil Nadu govt:" Vedanta opposes Supreme Court suggestion to allow State govt to operate Oxygen plant