Pollution board seeks detailed report on JSPL's CTL project

SPCB will take up a detailed scrutiny of CTL project after receipt of information from company

The State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has sought a detailed report from Jindal Synfuels Ltd, a subsidiary of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) on its coal to liquid project proposed at Durgapur in Angul district.

The SPCB has sought information from Jindal Synfuels Ltd on the project report, technical knowhow and pollution control measures planned for the CTL project, Bijayshree Routray, state forest minister informed the assembly in a written reply.

The minister said the SPCB will take up a detailed scrutiny of the CTL project after receipt of information from the company. Various technologies are used in producing liquid fuels from coal like Kohleoel process, solvent extraction process, Chevron coal liquefaction process, COGAS process and Fischer-Tropsch process, he informed.

The CTL project envisages a production capacity of 80,000 barrels of oil per day. It is estimated to cost Rs 60,000 crore.

JSPL hoped to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state government for the CTL project by the year-end. The draft MoU to be signed with JSPL is ready. It has been decided that the MoU tenure shall be for nine years with a clause that after every three years, the project will be reviewed.

Recently, the state government imposed some fresh conditions on the project. The state government has insisted on the original promoters to retain at least 51 per cent equity in the CTL project till three years of start of commercial operations. The government has imposed some other conditions. The company needs to achieve financial closure within a year of possession of two-thirds of allotted land. The company has to furnish a status report on the project every six months.