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Orissa High Court dashes Vedanta hopes to expand refinery

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:51:32 +0000

Vedanta Aluminium Ltd tried to get the High Court in the Indian State of Orissa to overturn its decision to stop expansion of the company’s Lanjigarh bauxite refinery. It failed.

See http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-19/bhubaneswar/30642318_1_review-petition-vedanta-aluminum-alumina-refinery.…
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Vedanta set to grab further Indian resources – twice over

Richard — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:50:11 +0000

Vedanta’s contract with Scottish firm, Cairn Energy, to take a controlling stake in India’s most promising new oil field, still isn’t a “done deal”. But the acquisition has now moved one step closer to completion with backing from the Oil ministry – despite failures to address the Home Affairs ministry’s misgivings about Vedanta’s highly dubious human rights, environmental and governance record. Just as this particular “coup” looks like being ratified by the central government, the company’s principal subsidiary, Sterlite Industries, is proposing to purchase what it doesn’t yet own of BALCO. BALCO is Vedanta’s principal integrated aluminium subsidiary, notorious for its appalling record in safeguarding workers’ health and safety.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11428&l=1.

Indian officials accused of conniving with Vedanta to avoid water penalties

Richard — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:27:43 +0000

It’s nothing new for UK-listed Vedanta Resources to be accused (or found guilty) of committing illegal acts – something that’s happened on many occasions since the Indian-focused company listed on the London Stock Exchange seven years ago this month.

Now, a civil society organization (Odisha Water Initiatives – OWI) which pledges to protect water supplies for the people of Orissa (Odisha), provided evidence of numerous instances where the company illegally extracted water from rivers and reservoirs.

But, even when fined for these violations, the company failed to pay the penalties – now amounting to some US$2 million.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11395.

‘Why waive Rs 9 crore penalty on Vedanta?’

Richard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:48:19 +0000

The move by the Orissa State Government in India to waive Rs 9 crore penalty on Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) for withdrawal of water from Bheden river and Hirakud reservoir came in for sharp criticism from the Opposition in the Assembly on Saturday. Raising the issue during zero hour, Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh said when farmers are not getting water for cultivation, the Government is protecting the interests of the big industries by allowing them to draw water from Hirakud reservoir.

See http://expressbuzz.com/states/orissa/why-waive-rs-9-crore-penalty-on-vedanta/344648.html.

See also Water tax waiver issue rocks Assembly at http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhubaneswar/28643-water-tax-waiver-issue-rocks-assembly.html and Water Lootera Vedanta gets undue favour from Water Bureaucracy at http://climatecrusaders.blogspot.com/2011/12/water-lootera-vedanta-gets-undue-favour.html.

(One crore = ten million. Nine crore rupees is equivalent to over £1,080,000 sterling.)

Vedanta seeks coal mines overseas, to participate in India auction

Richard — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:20:38 +0000

With India set to auction off as many as 58 coal blocks to the highest bidder, Vedanta has thrown its hat in the ring.

See http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page38?oid=141185&sn=Detail&pid=92730.

More “accidents” at Vedanta’s Indian copper smelter

Richard — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 18:31:52 +0000

It should have been shut down nearly a year ago. But, despite an order by the Madras High Court, UK-listed Vedanta Resources has been allowed to continue operating its highly-polluting Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) copper smelter in Tamil Nadu.

On 17 August 2011, according to information coming from within the plant, a 45-minute poisonous gas leak partially-suffocated some of its workforce.

Now – less than four months later (14 November 2011) - a contract worker has died, and another was seriously injured, after being sucked into a duct that should itself have been closed down.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11313.

Vedanta profits plummet

Richard — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:11:50 +0000

The miners are still cashing in on higher commodity prices, but rising energy and labour costs are starting to hurt. That was the message delivered with results from metals behemoths Vedanta Resources and ENRC.

See http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-24008392-miners-enjoy-better-times-but-costs-starting-to-hurt.do.

Vedanta accused of fraud – yet again!

Richard — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:49:24 +0000

As if the catalogue of violations by Vedanta’s Goan iron mining subsidiary, revealed earlier this month, wasn’t enough, it’s now accused of major fraud. India’s Serious Fraud Office is said to have ordered prosecution of Sesa Goa on eight counts, including its over- and under- invoicing of exports and imports of ore.

Meanwhile, the government of Karnataka (where Vedanta is also accused of illegally operating) has “de-listed” all mining projects that are currently awaiting environmental clearance.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11245.

Vedanta guilty of illegal mining, admits political donations

Richard — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:26:22 +0000

In August 2011, Vedanta’s primary iron ore mining subsidiary, Sesa Goa, was cited in an official report as one of the companies found to have been mining illegally in the state of Karnataka. Now, the Goa Chronicle has exposed the extent of Vedanta-Sesa Goa’s illegal mining, and its funding of political parties in the southern Indian state. It’s had a license withdrawn due to “expert fraud”. And Vedanta is also alleged to have violated rules on making foreign political donations. Just when will the UK government and investors wake up to the reality of Vedanta Resources plc – this monster in their midst?

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11213.

Vedanta’s PR firm under fire
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/markets/article-23996825-city-spy-finsbury-is-under-fire-on-mp-claims.do

Copper miners in Zambia fearful of ‘King Cobra’

Richard — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:41:13 +0000

The election of Michael Sata to president of Zambia is not sitting well with copper miners who fear the 73-year-old, known as “King Cobra” for his aggressive style, will pick the pockets of mining companies, Bloomberg reports.

Among the foreign companies with copper interests in Zambia are Vancouver-based First Quantum Minerals; Glencore International Plc; London-based Vedanta Resources Plc; and Barrick Gold, which owns Lumwana Mine, Africa’s largest copper mine, through its acquisition earlier this year of Equinox Minerals Ltd.

See http://www.mining.com/2011/09/23/copper-miners-in-zambia-fearful-of-king-cobra/.

Vedanta’s refinery expansion plan suffers another setback

Richard — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:23:25 +0000

Vedanta has suffered another setback in its fight-back to expand the aluminium refinery in Orissa after the Union environment ministry had struck down its environment clearance for violations.

The Cuttack bench of the Orissa High Court backed the environment ministry and ordered that Vedanta would have to apply afresh for a clearance for expansion if it wants to.

See http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-17/india/30168402_1_bauxite-mining-project-environment-clearance-vedanta.

Apex court reserves order on Vedanta subsidiary’s plant

Richard — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:34:17 +0000

The Indian Supreme Court has reserved its order on a plea of Vedanta subsidiary Sterlite Industries Ltd. (SIL), which has sought permission to continue operating its Tamil Nadu-based copper smelting plant which was ordered shut over green concerns.

An apex court bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice A.K. Patnaik reserved the order after it was told about the adverse findings of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) about the operation of the smelting plant in Tuticorin and its impact on air, water and soil in the area.

The court’s decision to reserve its order follows its interim order Oct 1, 2010, by which it had stayed the Madras High Court’s Sep 28, 2010, direction to close the plant.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11169.

Sesa Goa to suspend mining in Karnataka

Richard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:07:07 +0000

Vedanta Group firm Sesa Goa said it will stop mining in Karnataka’s Chitradurga with immediate effect, following the Indian Supreme Court’s order banning mining in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts.

See http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-08-27/news/29934944_1_chitradurga-and-tumkur-districts-iron-ore-mining-activities.

Vedanta guilty of violations at Indian copper smelter: Supreme Court orders pollution control measures

Richard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:50:17 +0000

In October last year, the Madras High Court ordered Sterlite Industries – a subsidiary of UK-listed Vedanta Resources – to cease operating its Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) copper smelter in Tamil Nadu. Local citizen environmentalists had provided compelling evidence that the company was willfully violating pollution control regulations.

The closure never occurred. In early 2011 the company went to the country’s Supreme Court and successfully argued for a “stay of execution” while further evidence was being gathered.

Last month, after touring the plant, a team convened by NEERI (one of India’s leading scientific institutes), confirmed some of the allegations made by the litigants.

The Supreme Court has now directed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to file an application, specifying the polluting materials illegally released from the plant, and propose ways of checking emissions in and around the factory.

See http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=11130&l=1.

Amnesty International refutes Vedanta’s claims

Richard — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:48:53 +0000

In July 2011, Amnesty International issued a report, “Generalisations, omissions, assumptions: The failings of Vedanta’s Environmental Impact Assessments for its bauxite mine and alumina refinery in India’s state of Orissa”.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Vedanta to respond. Its response is available on the Business and Human Rights website.

Amnesty International then issued a follow-up statement.

See http://www.business-humanrights.org/media/documents/amnesty-rejoinder-vedanta-aug-2011.doc.