Tamil Nadu power plants sluggish in complying with sulfur dioxide norms
CHENNAI: Except for two units, no thermal power plants in Tamil Nadu have SO2 (sulfur dioxide) emission control technology. Chennai, Neyveli, Thoothukudi and Mettur are the State’s four major coal-burning clusters, and of them, Neyveli and Chennai were among the world’s top 50 SO2 hotspots in 2019.
As per the latest information available with TNIE, only two units (1,200 MW) of IL&FS Tamil Nadu Power Company Ltd in Cuddalore, out of 40 operational units (13,160 MW) in the State, have installed Flue Gas Desulfuriser (FGD) as of October 2021. Another eight units (3,950 MW) have awarded bids for FGD installation, essentially leaving 30 units (8,810 MW) out of 40 without any significant progress towards installing FGDs.
