2262017 In pollution fight govt looking at nationwide ban on petcoke | Business Line

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In pollution fight govt looking at nationwide ban on petcoke

AESHA DATTATWESH MISHRA

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Cement and captive power producers fear surge in input costs

New Delhi February 24

India is mulling over the possibility of a nationwide ban on petcoke the preferred fuel for captive power plants and thecement manufacturing industry

A senior official in the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change told BusinessLine that currently theproposal was only to ban the fuel in DelhishyNCR ldquoThe Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has given itsview on the issue of petcoke We will file an affidavit with the SC soonrdquo the official said

The Supreme Court had mandated a meeting of EPCA to ban petcoke and seek alternatives to the fuel in the NationalCapital

When asked about a possibility of a panshyIndia ban the official said the matter was under consideration and theMinistry was taking views on an allshyIndia ban However no decision had been taken yet

Sunita Narain DirectorshyGeneral of the Centre for Science and Environment and member of the EPCA said ldquoWe haverecommended a ban on petcoke in DelhishyNCR but one needs to look at banning it across India as it is a very highlypolluting fuelrdquo

Restricting importShe added that a restriction was needed on the import of petcoke which is a refinery byshyproduct as countries such asthe US and China were using India as a ldquodumping groundrdquo

The EPCA has currently recommended that the use of the fuel be allowed for cement manufacturers but not for captivepower generation

The cement industry however is still concerned about the possibility of a blanket ban and what it could mean for theindustry Independent cement manufacturing consultant J D Baghpat said ldquoThe ban will offset the energy savings andlowering of ashshycontent that come by using petcoke Due to its higher calorific value petcoke generates higher energythan other available resources such as mineral coal The sulphur content too is removed before it goes to air in cementmanufacturingrdquo

Preferred alternativeA possible ban on petcoke dampens the prospects of captive power producers and cement manufacturers that preferthis fuel as an alternative to more expensive fuels

Rajiv Agarwal Secretary at the Indian Captive Power Producers Association said ldquoPetcoke is the currently availablefuel for captive power producers as larger volumes of coal are diverted for independent power producer and publicsector power generation projects Generally power producers use a mix of 20 to 30 per cent petcoke with coal to keepsulphur emissions under check and to sustain the life of the plant The government will have to ensure free availabilityof cheap coal if they want to go ahead with the banrdquo

(This article was published on February 24 2017)

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