POWER COSTS MAY DECLINE AS CENTRE EASES EMISSION NORMS

The government has relaxed the universal implementation of flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems at coal power plants across the country, in a move that is likely to lower electricity prices.

- Rituraj Baruah

A 12 July-notification from the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEF&CC) said thermal power plants outside a 10km radius of cities with a population of] million or more will be excluded from the requirement to install the system.

Flue gas, a residue from thermal power plants, emits sulphur dioxide (S02), which can mix in the atmosphere and create secondary particulate matter, an air pollutant.