Why in the News?

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has issued fourth extension for thermal power plants (TPP) to comply with Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) emission norms. 

More about the News

• Extension from 2022 notification deadline: Ministry extended the deadlines for installing (FGD) systems in TPPs. 
  • As per 2022 notification deadlines for SO₂ compliance for non-retiring TPPs were announced in September Category A by December 31, 2024; Category B by December 31, 2025 and Category C by December 31, 2026.
• New compliance deadline: Category A now has a deadline of December 31, 2027; Category B by December 31, 2028 and Category C by December 31, 2029 for installing Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems in TPPs.
  • The flue gas desulfurization (FGD) plant removes sulfur dioxides (SO₂) from flue gas produced by boilers, furnaces, and other sources. 
  • Category A included plants within a 10-kilometre radius of the NCR or cities with populations greater than one million. 
  • Category B included plants within a 10-kilometre radius of critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities and 
  • Category C includes all remaining plants.

• Genesis: In 2015, the MoEF&CC implemented India's first emission norms for SO₂, NOₓ and mercury control, acknowledging the significant impact of coal-fired power plants on pollution levels
• 2017: The Union Ministry of Power requested an extension of seven years. The Supreme Court eventually granted five additional years, until 2022.

Sources of theSulphur dioxide

• Natural: Volcanoes (67%).
• Anthropogenic: Combustion of fossil fuel (coal, heavy fuel oil in thermal power plants, office, factories); Paper Industry; Extraction & distribution of fossil fuels; Smelting of metals (sulfide ores to produce copper, lead and zinc); Petroleum refining; Combustion process in diesel, petrol, natural gas driven vehicles etc.

Government regulations to control Sulphur dioxide

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981: This act empowers the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to monitor and regulate the emission of pollutants, including SO₂.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: The government can set specific SO₂ emission limits for industries like power plants, refineries, and cement manufacturing under the Environment Protection Act (EPA).
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS): The MoEFCC has established National Ambient Air Quality Standards to control the concentration of various pollutants, including sulfur dioxide.
• BS-VI Fuel Standards: The Indian government has implemented stricter Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards for vehicles, which also regulate the sulfur content in fuels.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), 2019 was launched by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to control pollution.
• SAMEER App and Social Media Accounts (Facebook & Twitter) have been set up by CPCB, which have been very effective in monitoring performance of implementing agencies to curb Air Pollution.

Way forward

• Need of strict implementation of regulations: There should not be further extension of deadlines for installing (FGD) systems in TPPs.
• Fuel Cleaning: Employ fuel cleaning methods like coal beneficiation to remove pyritic sulfur before combustion. Coal washing can remove approximately 50% of pyritic sulfur and 20-30% of total sulfur,
• Fuel Cleaning: Employ fuel cleaning methods like coal beneficiation to remove pyritic sulfur before combustion. Coal washing can remove approximately 50% of pyritic sulfur and 20-30% of total sulfur,
• Shift to clean energy sources: Such as renewable energy sources and fuels like hydrogen through policies like National Green Hydrogen Mission.