The Government’s Approach
The government’s latest decision to relax its mandate on flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems at coal-fired power plants is seen as a move towards more nuanced and evidence-led regulation. The reduced electricity costs resulting from this relaxation directly benefit customers.
Global Alignment
This decision aligns with global trends where countries are customizing emissions policies based on local conditions and climate considerations. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has stated that FGD systems, which help remove sulphur dioxide (SOâ‚‚) from flue gases, will now be mandatory only for plants in dense urban zones or critical pollution areas.
In a recent gazette notification, the government has narrowed down the requirement for FGD systems to plants located within 10 kilometers of cities with a population exceeding one million. Around 80% of India’s coal capacity, primarily using low-sulphur domestic coal, will be exempt from this mandate.
