The industry, which says it is committed to the carbon reduction protocols, has argued that implemented of FGD should be backed with scientific efficacy, particularly in the Indian context
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL
The Ministries of Environment and Power have asked the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to have a close look at the relevance of FGDs (Flue Gas Desulfurisation) meant to control sulphur dioxide emissions from coal-fired thermal power plants.
At a recently held closed meeting jointly called by the two Ministers, a direction was given to CPCB to assess the three different studies done by IIT Delhi, CSIR-NEERI (who were asked by NITI Aayog) and National Institute of Advanced Studies at Bengaluru, respectively on the issue. All three reports seem to have reached the same conclusion — they have recommended against FGD installation in Indian thermal power plants citing low sulphur coal, National Ambient Air Quality Standards compliance, and minimal impact on PM reduction.
According to Section 7 of Electricity Act 2003, any generating company can establish, operate and maintain a generating station without obtaining a license under the Act, if it complies with the technical standards relating to connectivity with the grid referred to in clause (b) of Section 73 of the Act. All thermal power plants are required to comply with the emission norms as notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and directions given by CPCB from time to time.
MoEF&CC notification dated December 7, 2015; March 31, 2021, and September 5, 2022, have stipulated stack emission norms (including for Sulphur Di-oxide(SO2)), timelines for compliance and Environmental Compensation (in case of non-compliance) in respect of these plants based on categorisation. MoEF&CC has prescribed timelines for FGD installation based on the plant’s capacity and installation date: For plants installed before December 31, 2016, the deadline is December 2025; while for plants installed after January 1, 2017, it is December 2026.
FGD is a process used to remove SO2 from the flue gas produced when burning fossil fuels such as coal or oil. But, with constant upgradation of technology, industry has been seeking a reconsideration of the norm.
The industry, which says it is committed to the carbon reduction protocols, has argued that implemented of FGD should be backed with scientific efficacy, particularly in the Indian context, especially regarding low sulphur (0.5 per cent) content domestic coal. Besides, the norms cannot be uniform for all the plants, as each plant could vary dependent on the location, regional climate, surrounding population density and plant specific characteristics. Besides, there is an issue of cost benefit efficacy of FGD.
The demand is for a more targeted strategy that focuses on high efficiency electrostatic precipitators for particulate matter control to achieve air quality improvements while minimising unintended consequences.
Published on April 27, 2025
