[3] In February 2011, Sterlite Industries acquired Lisheen Zinc Mine in Ireland from Taurus International S.A., for a share value of approximately $546 million.
The Thoothukudi Copper Smelting plant has been long-opposed[11] by the local residents for polluting their environment as well as causing a range of health problems and has been subject to several closures, on grounds of violating environmental norms.
[21] The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) found evidence that Sterlite contaminated the groundwater, air and soil with its effluents and also violated standards of operation.
[11] In March 2013, TNPCB re-ordered a closure of the plant on grounds of leakage of gas, leading to nausea and skin irritation among local inhabitants.
[28] [29][30] This action of TN Government was set aside by NGT on 15 December 2018, directing the TNPCB to pass fresh order of renewal of consent and authorization to handle hazardous substances.
Though the Supreme Court of India set aside these directions on appeal by TN Government, Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and Navin Sinha held on 18 February 2019 that the NGT had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
[31] On 28 October 2018, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board reported that the sulphur-dioxide levels in the air had reduced significantly after the Sterlite plant's closure.
On 22 March 2019, the company submitted an affidavit to the Madras High Court, claiming the damage of ₹100 crore (US$11 million), which was caused due to negligence in maintaining the premises by the district authorities.
[35] While the closure of Sterlite caused immediate noticeable improvement in air quality by TNPCB, another study conducted by Anna University and the Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation Research confirmed that the road dust and vehicular emission as major factors contributing for the dust, causing poor air quality and make tuticorin already unsustainable .
The plant's closure also caused a cascading effect on the supply chain of chemicals and the associated industries that operate using products of Sterlite Copper.
[39][40] In March 2021, in a written response in the Lok Sabha, Pralhad Joshi, the Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs, informed the lower house that the plant's closure has affected the domestic production of refined copper.
[41] In 2021 and 2022, controversially it was also reported that petitions were filed by some villagers, fishermen and a few local organizations demanding the reopening of Sterlite Copper including the victims of police firing on anti-Sterlite protests.
[42][43][44][41] While the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan Commission did not find any "direct evidence" that points to the involvement of either Sterlite Industries, as claimed by a few activist groups, or any outfit, as alleged by the then government and a few individuals such as actor Rajinikanth, in the violence of 22 May 2018, it is clear state government, three Tahsildars, 17 police personnel and the then District Collector, N Venkatesh co-ordinated inaction, lethargy, complacency and dereliction of duty.
[46] It has launched Tamira Muthukkal, a project under the Muthucharam Initiative that provides skill training modules on various courses to help the youth of Thoothukudi to seek employment.