India’s Union Environment Ministry Exempts Thermal Plants from Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) Systems

• Majority of India’s thermal power plants are exempt from installing FGD systems to cut sulphur dioxide emissions.
• Flue gas, a residue from burning fuels, can create secondary particles linked to air pollution.
• Only 11% of India’s 600 thermal power plant units (TPPs) have to install FGD systems.
• Category A plants (located within a 10-km radius of the National Capital Region or cities with a population of at least a million) and Category B plants (located within 10 km radius of critically polluted areas or non-attainment cities) may or may not have to install FGD.
• The remaining 78% of TPPs (Category C) are exempt from FGD installation.
• The Central Pollution Control Board is examining the recommendations of the expert committee.