Coal news and updates

Amid growing criticism for converting from oil and gas to coal to generate electricity, Tata Power Company (TPC) officials recently said they would use a special coal called "gold coal" that has extremely low sulphur and ash content to generate power from Unit 6 in Trombay.

 

"It is important to take a decision on the 500 MW Unit 6, which currently runs on oil," TPC CEO and MD Anil Sardana said. "When a unit runs on oil, it emits more unburnt carbon and pollutes the environment compared to gold coal, which is a special coal with less than 3% ash and 0.2% to 0.3% sulphur."

 

He said the fly ash is precipitated down entirely and sold to cement plants, making for clean generation of power.

 

The TPC got a clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) for the conversion of Unit 6 to coal from oil or gas a couple of months ago.

 

The switch is expected in 18 months at the most. "This could also lead to drop in tariff from the present Rs 12-13 per unit to Rs 4," Sardana said.

 

 

Source: ToI