High emission levels: Maharashtra power plants face closure

Coal-based power projects operated by the state-run Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco) face closure in view of high emission levels.

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), in its recent missive, has asked MahaGenco to control emission up to 150 mg per cubic meter by carrying out time-bound anti-emission control measures, failing which MPCB said such units would be closed.

So far, MahaGenco has closed down eight units with a total generation capacity of 570 Mw. These units comprised Koradi, Parali, Bhusawal and Paras and were in operation for more than 35 years against stipulated average of 20 years.

There are about additional eight coal-based power plants recording higher levels of emission and they may have to be closed down in the absence of effective anti-pollution control norms. MahaGenco has a total installed capacity of 9,996 Mw of which 6,800 Mw is generated through coal-based power projects. This apart, MahaGenco has already launched capacity addition of 6,500 Mw with the installation of 660 Mw super-critical units in a bid to achieve emission levels within the prescribed level.

Maharashtra energy minister Ajit Pawar told Business Standard, “Emission levels in these units were higher than MPCB norms. In some cases, it was above 600 mg per cubic meter. MPCB had taken a bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh for Koradi units. The decision to close down these units was to avoid further MPCB action.”

He made it clear it was not done to benefit the private sector projects and added the decision was taken purely on the basis of economics.

Pawar said these units with high emission levels were closed due to lack of necessary spares. The high-emission level is also because of poor quality of coal. He informed MahaGenco had been making continuous efforts to get fair-quality and washed coal to increase plant load factor and curb high-fly ash emission.

MahaGenco official said the company is taking a slew of measures to control high emission levels. “These include injection of ammonia dose, effective fuel use and installation of flue-gas desulfurization plant.”