States »SoutPosted at: Jun 9 2021 3:25PM Sterlite Copper CEO Pankaj Kumar quits citing personal reasons
Chennai, June 9 (UNI) Mr Pankaj Kumar, CEO of the
Vedanta Group-owned Sterlite Copper Smelter Plant
in Thoothukudi, has resigned from the post.
Mr Kumar has cited 'personal reasons' for his decision
to quit the Sterlite Plant.
Mr Kumar has confirmed that he has put in his papers.
He has quit at a time when the plant has been producing
medical oxygen to meet the oxygen requirements for treating
COVID patients.
Sources said Mr Pankaj Kumar was expected to continue in
the post till a new person was appointed in his place.
The Thoothukudi plant has been shut after the May 2018 police
firing against anti-sterlite protestors in which 13 people were killed.
However, in view of the huge demand for medical oxygen across
the country for treating COVID patients, the Vedanta Group had
approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to produce
medical oxygen following which it was granted permission to operate
the plant for manufacturing oxygen alone.
Following a Supreme Court order, the Tamil Nadu government
had granted permission for the Vedanta Group to re-open its
Sterlite copper smelter plant to manufacture oxygen alone
and the company started producing liquid oxygen from May 12
onwards and the first batch was sent to Tirunelveli the next day.
However, the next day a technical glitch affected oxygen production
at the plant.
On May 19, the company said ''We are glad to share that the
disruption in the oxygen plant has been rectified and have
now restarted production.''
''The oxygen generated is being stored at our onsite facilities
and will be distributed as per the directions of the Tamil Nadu
government and concerned nodal officers'', it said.
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