FGD Mandate Exemption

A government-appointed expert committee has recommended removing the mandatory requirement for installing Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units in all coal-fired thermal power plants. The suggestion is based on studies indicating that SO? emissions are within permissible limits in most areas, especially outside densely populated zones.

Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Units – Role and Background:

• FGDs are pollution control technologies used in coal-fired thermal power plants to reduce sulphur dioxide (SO?)
• Mandated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) since December 2015, as part of the revised emission norms for thermal power plants.

New Recommendation:

• The expert committee has recommended that only Category A TPPs (located within a 10-km radius of the NCR and cities with population >1 million) must install FGDs.
• Out of 600 TPP units, only 66 fall under Category A, and currently, only 14 of these have installed FGD units.
• The remaining ~534 TPPs (approx. 80%) may be exempted from FGD compliance.

Scientific Basis of the Recommendation:

• Ambient SO? levels in most Indian regions range between 10–20 µg/m³, which is significantly below the permissible limit of 80 µg/m³ under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• Indian coal has low sulphur content, reducing the necessity for SO?-specific pollution control mechanisms.
• Studies found no significant difference in ambient SO? levels between areas with and without operational FGDs.

Key Policy Implication:

• Relaxation of SO? stack emission norms will not compromise public health, as long as NAAQS are met.
• Focus remains on compliance with particulate matter (PM) standards and freshwater use regulations, which remain unchanged.

Reasoning Cited for Non-Compliance So Far:

• Limited number of FGD vendors, high costs, COVID-19-induced disruptions, and the risk of increased electricity tariffs have delayed compliance.

Timeline and Future Compliance:

• Category A TPPs are still required to comply by 2027.
• This recommendation, if accepted by the Power Ministry and MoEFCC, could redefine India’s strategy towards SO? emission management in the power sector.