Lok Sabha Question No. 3059 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-04
Subject: Installation of Sulphur Regulator Technology
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Gowdar Mallikarjunappa Siddeshwara

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3059

## ANSWERED ON 04.08.2022

## INSTALLATION OF SULPHUR REGULATOR TECHNOLOGY

3059.  SHRI G.M. SIDDESHWAR:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  even  after the deadline given by the Government  to  install the technology  to  prevent  sulphur  dioxide  present  in  the  black  smoke  emitted  from  the thermal  power  stations,  many  power  companies  are  yet  to  install  this  technology;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  coal-fired  power  stations  of  the  country  are  facing  technical difficulties in installing sulphur regulator technology;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the  guidelines  issued  by  the  Government  for  immediate  installation  of  sulphur regulator technology in all the thermal power stations of the country?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

(SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a) to (e) : Coal based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) are required to ensure compliance  of  the  emission  norms,  as  notified  by Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and directions given by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)  from  time  to  time.  As  per  the  recent  notification  dated  31.03.2021  issued  by MoEF&CC, the following timelines and penalty provisions have been provided for those power plants which do not comply after the timelines given in the notification:

| Category and Description                                                                                      | Timelines for compliance   | Environment Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated) for non-   | Environment Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated) for non-   | Environment Compensation (Rs. per unit electricity generated) for non-   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                               |                            | 0-180 days                                                               | 180-365 days                                                             | 366 days beyond                                                          |
| Category A - Within 10 km radius of NCR or cities having million plus Population as per 2011 census of India. | Upto 31.12.2022            | 0.10                                                                     | 0.15                                                                     | 0.20                                                                     |
| Category B - Within 10 km radius of critically polluted areas or Non- Attainment cities as defined by CPCB.   | Upto 31.12.2023            | 0.07                                                                     | 0.10                                                                     | 0.15                                                                     |
| Category C-Other than those included in Category A and B.                                                     | Upto 31.12.2024            | 0.05                                                                     | 0.075                                                                    | 0.10                                                                     |

........2.

As per the above notification, the earliest timelines for compliance begins from 31.12.2022 for Category A plants. Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) is one of the technologies chosen by the Thermal  Power  Plants  for  compliance  to  Sulphur  dioxide  (SO2)  emission  norms.  As informed by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the percentage of  works awarded for installation of FGD by Central, State and Private sector thermal generating units are 86.6%, 12.1% and 25.1% respectively.

Constraints  faced  by  the  Thermal  Power  Plants  in  implementation  of Sulphur emission norms using FGD technology are as follows:

- i. Minimum time period required for FGD commissioning from the date of award is 36-42 months.
- ii. Limited availability of vendors.
- iii. Price escalation due to limited supply of components
- iv. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on supply chain and manpower availability.

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