Acid removal at Sterlite plant to be completed today

The officials along with an expert team commenced the work of removing the sulphuric acid that leaked from the Sterlite copper unit, in Thoothukudi on Monday. It is suspected that over 20,000 litres of sulphuric acid might have leaked from the container due to its corrosive nature.

After the copper smelter unit was sealed by officials following a government order to permanently shut down the plant, all operations at the factory was halted completely.

Various acids, which were used as raw materials in the copper smelter, were stored in large containers and the company was not given time to remove them. On Saturday evening, there was a leak in one of the containers in which sulphuric acid was stored. Some policemen posted on security duty at the unit, who noticed the leak, informed the Sterlite management, following which the company submitted a report to the district administration.

Acting on the report, Thoothukudi Collector Sandeep Nanduri deputed a team, led by Sub-Collector Prasanth, to inspect the situation. As the team confirmed the leak, an urgent meeting of officials was convened to discuss the safe ways to plug the leak and dispose the acid.

On Monday morning, the team, led by Prasanth, again entered the Sterlite factory and commenced the correction work. Meanwhile, an official said that the sulphuric acid in the tank had lost its strength and corrosive power as it was stored for a long time. It was also estimated that 20,000 litres of acid might have leaked and therefore special containers were brought in to transport the acid out of the unit.

Speaking to newspersons, Sandeep Nanduri said that the work would be completed mostly by Tuesday afternoon and all the leaked acid would be removed from the plant. The sulphuric acid would be bought by other companies in Thoothukudi and would be used as raw material.

Meanwhile, Sterlite was holding talks with other companies to sell the sulphuric acid by Tuesday.

The responsibility of the district administration lies till the point the leaked sulphuric acid was shifted safely out of Sterlite copper unit, said the Collector.

The sulphuric acid was stored in a 30X30 (height and diameter) container with thick wall, called dyke, which has twice the capacity of the container. However, the leak was noticed in the pipe that was carrying the acid to the container and the experts suggest that leak might have been due to the corrosive nature of the acid.

An expert, who was a part of the inspection team, said, the sulphuric acid was kept stagnant for a long time and that could have corroded the pipe, which would have resulted in the leak. Because of the leak, the acid had penetrated the brick structure and filled up the entire concrete. However, due to constant chemical reaction the sulphuric acid had lost its acidic nature and at present, it has become less corrosive, said the expert.