On verge of retiring, thermal power producers not keen to invest

According to guidelines by the CEA, coal-based thermal power projects that have completed 25 years of operations are to be retired

Thermal power producers that are three to four years shy of reaching the retirement age are not keen on investing in technology upgrade to meet the latest emission norms notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

The ministry guidelines mandate thermal power projects to invest Rs 1-1.2 crore per Mw in installing latest equipment to meet the norms to mitigate pollution. The deadline originally fixed for compliance is the end of December this year.

Older coal-fired generating units are hesitant to make capital investments. Since they run the risk of being retired after three to four