{"id":46249,"date":"2025-04-18T03:40:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-17T22:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=46249"},"modified":"2025-05-17T20:24:17","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T14:54:17","slug":"study-recommends-rollback-of-fgd-mandate-for-indian-coal-power-plants-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/study-recommends-rollback-of-fgd-mandate-for-indian-coal-power-plants-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Recommends Rollback of FGD Mandate for Indian Coal Power Plants"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>What\u2019s in Today\u2019s Article?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>FGD Mandate for Coal Plants Latest News<\/li>\n<li>Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)<\/li>\n<li>Key Highlights of the Study<\/li>\n<li>FGD Mandate for Coal Plants FAQs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>FGD Mandate for Coal Plants Latest News<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A study by the National Institute of Advanced Studies, commissioned by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, has recommended that the Union Environment Ministry roll back its 2015 policy mandating all 537 coal-fired power plants to install Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Instead, the installation should be limited to plants using imported coal or coal with high sulphur content (&gt;0.5%), ensuring a more cost-effective and targeted approach to reducing sulphur dioxide emissions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) is a process used to remove sulphur dioxide (SO\u2082) from the exhaust gases of fossil fuel power plants and industrial sources.<\/li>\n<li>SO\u2082 is a harmful air pollutant that causes acid rain and respiratory issues. FGD helps reduce its presence in the atmosphere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Working of FGD<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Absorption<\/strong>: An absorbent like lime, limestone, or ammonia reacts with SO\u2082.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Scrubbing<\/strong>: The absorbent, often in slurry form, is sprayed into a scrubber tower to contact flue gases.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chemical Reaction<\/strong>: SO\u2082 reacts with the absorbent to form compounds like calcium sulphite or calcium sulphate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Byproducts:<\/strong> Some systems produce useful byproducts like gypsum, which is used in construction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Regulatory Mandate in India<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The MoEF&amp;CC has made FGD installation <strong>mandatory for all coal-fired thermal power plants<\/strong> to curb SO\u2082 emissions and comply with environmental norms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Timeline of Compliance Extensions<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>2015: Emission Norms Introduced<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>MoEF&amp;CC introduced strict SO\u2082 emission norms for coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs).<\/li>\n<li>Initial compliance deadline set for 2017.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>2017: First Extension Granted<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Ministry of Power requested a 7-year extension.<\/li>\n<li>Supreme Court allowed a 5-year extension till 2022.<\/li>\n<li>Plants in Delhi-NCR were to comply by 2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>2021: Task Force and Categorization<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>April 1: MoEF&amp;CC issued a notification to form a task force.<\/li>\n<li>April 16: Task force created with officials from MoEF&amp;CC, Power Ministry, CEA, and CPCB.<\/li>\n<li>Plants categorized based on location:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Category A:<\/strong> Within 10 km of NCR\/1M+ population cities \u2014 Deadline: Dec 31, 2022<\/li>\n<li><strong>Category B:<\/strong> Within 10 km of critically polluted\/non-attainment cities \u2014 Dec 31, 2023<\/li>\n<li><strong>Category C:<\/strong> All other plants \u2014 Dec 31, 2024<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>2022: Deadlines Revised<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>New compliance deadlines announced in September:\n<ul>\n<li>Category A: Dec 31, 2024<\/li>\n<li>Category B: Dec 31, 2025<\/li>\n<li>Category C: Dec 31, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>2024: Final Extension Announced<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>December notification revised deadlines again for non-retiring plants:\n<ul>\n<li>Category A: Dec 31, 2027<\/li>\n<li>Category B: Dec 31, 2028<\/li>\n<li>Category C: Dec 31, 2029<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Key Highlights of the Study<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>FGD Mandate Should Be Rolled Back<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The study recommended withdrawing the 2015 policy mandating FGD installation in all 537 coal-fired power plants.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Apply FGD Only to High-Sulphur Coal Users<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>FGDs should be mandatory only for plants using imported or high-sulphur coal (&gt;0.5%), not for those using domestic low-sulphur coal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Poor Compliance Despite Extended Deadlines<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Although the original deadline for installing FGDs was 2018, only 8% of plants have complied, with deadlines now pushed to as late as 2029.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Of the 537 plants, 230 are in various stages of installing FGDs, while 260 have yet to place orders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>High Costs Make FGD Economically Unviable<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>FGD installation costs \u20b91.2 crore per MW. With coal capacity expected to reach 283,000 MW by 2032, the financial burden is massive.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indian Coal Emits Less SO\u2082<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The study pointed out that 92% of Indian coal has low sulphur content (0.3%\u20130.5%).\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Furthermore, existing pollution control norms\u2014such as mandatory 220-metre stack heights\u2014combined with Indian climatic conditions, are adequate to prevent harmful SO\u2082-related effects like acid rain.\u00a0\n<ul>\n<li>A 2024 IIT Delhi study referenced in the report confirms that acid rain is not a major concern in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>FGDs Could Worsen Global Warming<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>The report warns that widespread FGD installation could backfire environmentally.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>It would raise freshwater and power consumption in plants and add 69 million tonnes of CO\u2082 between 2025 and 2030, while only reducing SO\u2082 emissions by 17 million tonnes.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Given that SO\u2082 helps mask global warming, indiscriminate removal of SO\u2082 emissions could actually intensify global warming, the study argues, referencing Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Focus Should Shift to Particulate Matter<\/strong>\n<ul>\n<li>Instead of targeting SO\u2082, the study recommends focusing on reducing particulate matter pollution, primarily caused by the high ash content in Indian coal.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>Installing electrostatic precipitators\u2014available from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited\u2014could reduce PM emissions by 99% at a cost of just \u20b925 lakh per MW, making it a more cost-effective and impactful solution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>FGD Mandate for Coal Plants FAQs<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Q1.<\/strong> What is the FGD mandate for coal plants in India?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> It mandates installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation units to reduce sulphur dioxide emissions from all coal-fired power plants.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q2.<\/strong> Why does the study oppose universal FGD installation?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> High costs, low SO\u2082 in Indian coal, and minimal acid rain risks make universal FGD installation economically and environmentally inefficient.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q3.<\/strong> Which coal plants should install FGDs, according to the study?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> Only those using imported or high-sulphur coal with sulphur content greater than 0.5% should install FGDs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q4.<\/strong> How can particulate matter pollution be reduced cost-effectively?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> Installing electrostatic precipitators can cut particulate matter by 99% at just \u20b925 lakh per MW, says the study.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q5.<\/strong> What are the environmental downsides of widespread FGD use?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ans.<\/strong> FGDs consume water, raise CO\u2082 emissions, and removing SO\u2082 could worsen global warming by reducing atmospheric cooling effects.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/energy-and-environment\/study-funded-by-principal-scientific-adviser-recommends-end-to-environment-ministrys-order-on-de-sulphurising-coal-plants\/article69461308.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindubusinessline.com\/economy\/environment-power-ministries-discuss-requirement-of-fgd-for-coal-power-plants\/article69445807.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">BL<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.downtoearth.org.in\/pollution\/thermal-power-plants-get-another-extension-for-so-compliance-norms-its-time-we-reassess-ongoing-delays\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">DTE<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new study urges limiting FGD to high-sulphur coal plants, citing economic, environmental concerns and India\u2019s low SO\u2082 emissions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":46250,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-46249","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46249"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46249\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}