downtoearth-subscribe

A mining company is an elusive animal

  • 29/09/2005

What, initially, sparked off the report?

I first heard of Sterlite Industries in 2000 and, a little later, of the debacle surrounding the Tuticorin smelter, which I visited in 2003 as a consultant with mmp India (Mines, Minerals & People, a national alliance of groups against destructive mining). When Vedanta was floated on the London Stock Exchange late that year, it seemed an absolute priority to track this company further. Vedanta kept a low profile whilst I was investigating, although they knew I was in India