India has decided to push back a deadline for coal-fired utilities to adopt new emission norms by three years, Reuters reported, citing a government notice. The country initially set a 2017 deadline for coal-fired power plants to install Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) units that reduce sulphur dioxides emissions. However, that rule was delayed to 2022 in some regions.
According to the latest notice, coal plants near New Delhi and other regions with large populations will have to comply by 2022. Meanwhile, plants in less populated areas have up to 2025 to comply or shut down permanently. The latest order from the environment ministry also says that utilities that miss the new target would be allowed to operate as long as they paid a penalty of up to INR0.20 ($0.0027) per unit of electricity produced.
The Central Pollution Control Board will deploy a task force to classify plants into three categories based on their location. In January, the power ministry said a “graded action plan” could prevent a sudden and sharp increase in power prices. The latest notice came after lobbies from coal plant operators such as state-owned NTPC, Reliance Power, and Adani Power.
