Tuticorin leakage: 50,000 litres sulphuric acid to be removed from Sterlite

TUTICORIN: Efforts to clear close to 50,000 litres of sulphuric acid that leaked from the sealed Sterlite copper plant in Tuticorin is all set to commence shortly.

District collector Sandeep Nanduri dismissed rumours on Sunday evening that is was a gas leak and said it was “a minor incident of sulphuric acid leak”. He said efforts to remove it to safety would commence on Monday.



An official who was part of a team, comprising pollution control board, inspector of factories, fire and rescue services, revenue and police, who inspected the plant on Sunday and submitted a report to the collector told TOI that efforts to identify a suitable destination for the acid began on Sunday night and was underway till Monday morning.

The acid was stored in a huge metal storage tank that could be about 30 feet tall with an equal diameter. It is surrounded by a dyke (a thick brick and concrete wall) that is close to twice the size of the tank to contain the acid in case of any untoward incident. Pumps at the base of the storage tank pumped the acid to tankers mounted on trucks at the truck bay close to the plant, from where it was taken to its destinations.

Sources said the acid could have leaked a few days ago and is suspected to be through a corroded valve and collected in the dyke. Reason for the corrosion and the exact location could not be ascertained due to inability to access the storage tank that is surrounded by the leaked acid. Officials said the acid lost a good part of its acidic nature due to reaction with the dyke walls and because the required temperature and pressure was not maintained.

Officials threw the branch of a tree into acid collected in the dyke. But for discoloration of the leaves that turned yellow there was no adverse reaction such as corrosion, which would have happened if the acid was as acidic as it used to be. Since discoloration happened it will still need handling with care. Fire and rescue services personnel were on alert in the nearby SIPCOT and Thticorin fire stations.

As power supply to the plant was disconnected a few weeks ago, the district administration has planned to use diesel generators to operate the pumps to drain the acid into tankers. “We might need around 10 tankers with a capacity of close to 5,000 litres each to drain it. Trials will commence shortly,” an official said on the condition of anonymity and added that there is no need for panic.