Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) was a chemical company founded in 1934. At the time of its rebranding in 1994, UCIL employed 9,000 people.[1][2] UCIL was 50.9% owned by Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation (UCC) located in the United States and 49.1% by Indian investors, including the Government of India and government-controlled banks.[3]
UCIL produced batteries, carbon products, welding equipment, plastics, industrial chemicals, pesticides and marine products. In 1984, a gas leak occurred at a UCIL facility located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, that was responsible for manufacturing various chemical products, primarily pesticides.[4] The incident killed thousands of people, and harmed hundreds of thousands more by causing chronic illnesses.[4]