The latest push for a deadline extension, if granted, would push back India’s emission targets for a second time. The government had already extended its initial December 2017 deadlines for electricity producers to meet tighter emission restrictions, bowing to pressure from the coal industry.
Pushing for further delays
Privately-held Adani Power, for once, calls for an extension of stricter emission limits at two of its large-scale power stations until March 2023. The two units were purchased from the GMR Group last year, and the Adani claims there would still be ownership issues to be resolved before looking into a plant retrofit.
State-owned NTPC, India’s largest utility, has sought to push back the deadline by up to two years at its Bongaigaon eastern Indian plant.
Coal is by far India’s dominant energy source, and the power sector accounts for two-thirds of India's coal consumption. Now policy makers and regulators in the second largest economy in the Asia-Pacific region needs to decide on whether they want to stick to their green energy targets, or keep watering them down.
Opposing FGD tech for retrofits
In a letter to the regulator, Adani said: “It is requested to kindly extend the flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) installation schedule for Raikheda thermal power plant of GMR Chattisgarh Energy to 31-March-2023." The FGD equipment is used to reduce emissions of gases known to cause lung diseases.
Small-scale power generators for industrial use, represented by the Indian captive power producers association, argue “the way FGD technology is being forced upon the industry is not practically sustainable."