Lok Sabha Question No. 4378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: Flue Gas Desulfurization Systems in Thermal Power Plants
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Dr. Prashant Yadaorao Padole

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.4378 ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025

## FLUE GAS DESULFURIZATION SYSTEMS IN THERMAL POWER PLANTS

4378.   DR. PRASHANT YADAORAO PADOLE:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

- (a) the current status of the installation of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems in thermal power plants across the country including the number of plants with completed installations;
- (b) the  timeline  set  for  the  completion  of  FGD  installations  to  ensure  compliance  with emission control standards mandated by the environmental regulations;
- (c) the details of the  challenges  faced  in  the  installation  process,  such  as  financial constraints, technical issues or delays along with the measures being taken by the Government to address these challenges; and
- (d) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  enforce  the  mandatory  adherence  to FGD installation deadlines to meet India's emission reduction commitments?

## A N S W E R

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER

(SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK)

- (a) : Total 537 Units [2,04,160 Mega Watt (MW)] have been identified for installation of Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGDs) in Thermal Power Plants (TPPs). Out of these, FGD installation has been completed  in  49  Units  (25,590  MW),  contracts  awarded  /  under  implementation  in  211  Units (91,880 MW), 180 Units (58,997 MW) are under various stages of tendering process and 97 Units (27,693 MW) are under pre-tendering process.
- (b)  to  (d)  :  Ministry  of  Environment  Forest  &  Climate  Change  (MoEF&CC)  vide  its  revised notification dated 30.12.2024 has prescribed the following timelines for TPPs to comply with the SO2 emission norms:

|   Sl. No. | Category   | Location/Area                                                                           | Timelines for Compliance (Non-retiring units)   | Last date for retirement of units for exemption from compliance   |
|-----------|------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Category A | Within 10 km radius of National Capital Region or cities having million plus population | Up to 31st December, 2027                       | Up to 31st December, 2030                                         |
|         2 | Category B | Within 10 km radius of Critically Polluted Areas or Non-attainment cities               | Up to 31st December, 2028                       | Up to 31st December, 2030                                         |
|         3 | Category C | Other than those included in category A and B                                           | Up to 31st December, 2029                       | Up to 31st December, 2030                                         |

In  case of non-compliance beyond the specified timelines, MoEF&CC has prescribed the following Environment Compensation on the non-retiring TPPs:

| Non-Compliant operation beyond Timeline   |   the Environmental Compensation (Rs. Per unit electricity generated) |
|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 0-180 days                                |                                                                   0.2 |
| 181-365 days                              |                                                                   0.3 |
| 366 days and beyond                       |                                                                   0.4 |

Major  issues/challenges  being  faced  by  TPPs  during  the  implementation  of  FGD  system  in

- thermal power plants are as below: (i) FGD technology being new to our country, there are at present limited vendors with limited  capacity  to  supply  and  install  FGD  components.  Vendor  capacity  for  FGD installation  is  about  16-20  GW  per  annum  (33  to  39  units)  in  the  country  and installation time is about 36 to 40 months which has led to mismatch in demand and supply of FGD equipment, causing rising costs and delays. (ii) India  had  manufacturing  capability  of  70%  FGD  components  which  has  now increased to 80% with the passage of time. However, it still depends on the imports from other countries for technology, critical equipment and skilled manpower. (iii) The installation of FGD systems is more like a Renovation and Modernization (R&M) project which has distinguished difficulties in terms of conceptualization and design challenges.  Standardization  could  not  be  done  as  different  sites  have  different requirements like space constraints, lay-out and orientation etc. To  address  the  above  issues,  vendors  have  been  encouraged  to  enhance  their  capacity and  to  maximize  the  indigenous  production  of  all  FGD  parts  in  order  to  reduce  import dependence.

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