Centre Relaxes Sulphur Norms for Coal Power Plants
In a major policy shift, the Indian government has relaxed sulphur dioxide emission regulations for coal-fired power plants, rolling back a mandate issued nearly a decade ago. The change comes amid concerns over the high cost and operational burden of installing Flue-Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) units across the country’s ageing coal fleet.
Majority of Plants Exempted
According to the revised policy, around 79% of India’s coal power plants located beyond 10 kilometres from cities with over 1 million population and ecologically sensitive areas will now be exempt from the earlier requirement to install FGDs. An additional 11% of plants, located near moderately polluted regions, will be evaluated individually. Only 10% of coal plants, situated close to major cities or critical zones, will still need to implement FGD technology by December 2027.
Cost and Efficiency at the Core
The decision is being justified on the grounds of reducing power generation costs and ensuring grid stability. Officials said that Indian coal has relatively low sulphur content and disperses more effectively in open spaces. Additionally, installing FGDs involves significant capital investment and increased carbon dioxide emissions due to the higher energy and material input required for operation.
Industry estimates suggest that mandatory FGDs would have raised power tariffs by ₹0.25 to ₹0.30 per unit and added ₹2.5 lakh crore in infrastructure costs. Power producers had expressed concerns about the potential impact on electricity supply during peak demand periods.
Criticism from Environmental Groups
The move has drawn sharp criticism from environmental organisations and public health advocates, who argue that easing emission norms could worsen air pollution and lead to increased respiratory illnesses. Sulphur dioxide, when released into the atmosphere, contributes to the formation of harmful particulate matter.
Three-Tier Implementation Approach
The new framework classifies power plants into three categories:
- Category A (urban and critical zones): FGDs mandatory by end of 2027.
- Category B (non-attainment cities): reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
- Category C (rest of the plants): exempt from FGD installation.
Coal plants that shut down before 2030 are fully exempt. However, those continuing operations beyond that date without FGDs will need to pay an environmental charge of ₹0.40 per unit.
The government claims that the policy strikes a balance between environmental responsibility and the country’s energy needs. However, the debate over the long-term health and ecological costs remains far from settled.
