Vedanta Limited has proposed building a 'green copper' plant at the site of the now-closed Sterlite copper smelting plant in Thoothukudi. The company told the Madras High Court this new facility will help clean up the environment and strengthen India's copper supply with environmentally friendly methods. Vedanta, in its petition, said the technology planned is very different and much greener than before. It will use recycled copper, reducing hazardous waste by around 40% and cutting the carbon footprint by 34%. The plant aims to produce copper cathode emission levels less than 0.9 kg CO₂ per kg of copper - about half the global average. Renewable energy will power much of the operation to further cut pollution. Vedanta's lawyer, Rahul Balaji, said the project will balance environment protection and economic growth. Copper is vital for renewable energy and electric vehicles, so boosting India's domestic output is crucial. The company also highlighted that the plant would create new jobs for small and medium businesses nearby. The Madras High Court has scheduled a hearing for Vedanta’s petition on January 29, 2026. The court allowed Vedanta to submit formal applications to pollution control authorities even as the case proceeds. Vedanta noted the original Sterlite plant began in 1997 and supplied over 36% of India’s copper before it closed in 2018 after court orders. The closure increased India’s copper import needs. Vedanta has asked Tamil Nadu officials to consider its green copper plan but says it has not received any reply for over four months.