Indian court orders study on Vedanta bauxite mine

UK-listed Indian metals producer Vedanta has seen its plans for an integrated aluminium complex in the eastern Indian state of Orissa suffer a set-back in the form of a court ordering a sweeping impact study on its mine plans. The company has already built the new 1.4 million tpy Lanjigarh alumina refinery but is now facing fresh delays in winning the right to mine the bauxite it needs to feed the plant. The Indian Supreme Court, which has been hearing the case for more than a year, has ordered a "comprehensive" government report on the impact of large-scale mining activities in the region on tribes, wildlife and the environment. The court wants the impact report by Oct. 5, when it next hears the case, and is then expected to take some time to study its implications.