Mining giants, state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and the Vedanta group have said that they see an opportunity in the latest verdict by the Supreme Court of India for their projects.

Those against allowing the extraction of bauxite mining at Niyamgiri hills welcomed the order from the apex court on the matter. Chief operating officer of Vedanta Aluminium Limited (VAL) Mukesh Kumar said that the company welcomes the decision by the Supreme Court and pointed out that it will ensure that the miner has assured supplies for its alumina project.

Chennai, March 30 : The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) Friday ordered closure of the Tuticorin copper smelting plant of Sterlite Industries, a subsidiary of Vedanta group, with immediate effect, and power supply to the plant has been cut off, a company official said.

"The TNPCB issued the order to shut down the plant with immediate effect and the power utility yesterday (Friday) night disconnected the power supply to the plant. We are in the process of stopping operations, an official told IANS over phone from Tuticorin, 600 km from here.

Bhubaneswar, Jan 11 : A demonstration was staged at Rayagada in Orissa to demand an immediate resumption of bauxite supplies to Vedanta's alumina refinery at Lanjigarh to protect the livelihood of thousands of people.

The demand was made after a peaceful protest Thursday by over 500 labours who staged a demonstration at the Daikhalu Railway Station in Rayagada district of the state, some 360 km from here.

Bauxite used to be first transported by trains to Daikhalu station, 12 km from the refinery, and then taken in trucks. The road transport process engaged more than 1,000 people including the truck owners, drivers and labourers.

The management of London-listed Vedanta, a co-operative partner in ONGC, is reportedly looking to expand its international reach by acquiring new frontiers like shale acreages in India.

A senior Cairn India executive familiar with the situation said that they were keen to bid for shale acreages in India. Cairn India, which discovered India's largest onshore field in Rajasthan, will bid for shale acreages once the process of bidding starts by 2013.

Vedanta Resources is planning to acquire a majority stake in a refinery being set up in Barmer in western Indian state of Rajasthan.

The refinery, which is being built at an estimated cost of Rs. 2 billion, will have a capacity of 9 million tones a year. The company had acquired a controlling stake in Cairn Energy for $ 8.7 billion, which produces 1.75 lakh barrels a day from facilities in district of Barmer. The company had also acquired a 24.5 per cent stake in Raykal Aluminium Company Private Limited for Rs. 200.7 crore.