The recent signing of the Rampal Coal Power Station construction agreement has raised issues regarding the environmental impact of such a power plant in ecologically sensitive area of Sundarban. Answers to the following 10 questions will go a long way in bringing transparency to the design criteria of the power plant and coal handling system in minimizing environmental impact.
Coal, Natural Gas, Oil, Nuclear are the mainstay for large scale (~1000MW) baseload 24/7 electric generating stations that are essential for economic development of a country. Bangladesh is no different and all options including coal should be considered to strengthen the electricity infrastructure of the country. Each one of these technologies has environmental impact of its own and a clear understanding of how such impacts are minimized is needed for the public to be reassured that appropriate ENV controls have been put in place as part of the design criteria of the generating station.
Q1. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed with an SCR (Selective Catalyst Reactor) technology or other such means for reducing Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Emission? NOx is an air pollutant that is emitted during coal burning and causes smog, acid rain and ground level ozone that can impact the environmental and human health.
Q2. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed with a FGD (Flue Gas Desulfurizers) or other such means for reducing Sulfur Oxides (SOx) Emission? SOx is an air pollutant that is emitted during coal burning and causes acid rain and has detrimental impact on human health.
Q3. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed with a Baghouse or ESP (Electro Static Precipitator) or other such means for reducing Particulate Matters (PMs)? Particulate matter (PM) are air pollutants that are sometimes referred to as PM2.5 (particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter – less than one-hundredth of the width of a human hair). Among particles, fine particles are of gravest concern because they are so tiny that they can be inhaled deeply, thus evading the human lungs’ natural defenses.
Q4. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed with mercury removal technologies? Effective Mercury removal technology can reduce emission. Mercury is known to have an adverse health impact related to neurological disorder.
Q5. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed to minimize liquid waste discharge through water treatment? Without effective water treatment many of the air pollutants migrate to liquid and if this liquid is discharged without proper treatment it could adversely impact the ecologically sensitive area of Sundraban
Q6. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed with dry handling of coal combustion waste? Ash from burning coal is the most significant solid waste that also contains many other pollutants. Dry handling and appropriate management of ash disposal can prevent the possibility of leakage to ground water and nearby waterways from impoundments and landfills
Q7. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed with effective online emission monitoring system? Continuous emission monitoring ensure that the plant is operating within its design basis as it relates to environmental emission
Q8. Is the Rampal Power Plant designed to minimize the impact of thermal discharge on nearby marine life? Coal power plants use a significant amount of water to cool and condense the steam. The heated water that is discharged to nearby waterway could negatively impact marine life unless there is a limit on the temperature rise of the discharged water. This is typicaly limited to less than 10deg F temperature rise
Q9: Is the Rampal Power Plant designed to minimize the impact of coal shipment/handling on the local ecology? Coal shipment, transportation and handling could have adverse impact on sensitive eco systems. Proper precaution needs to be undertaken during the design phase to minimize such impact.
And finally
Q10: Have a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment for Rampal Power Station been conducted and results made available to the public? Such a report that address all forms of ENV impact and approaches to minimize the impact in the plant design will go a long way in reassuring the public that the Rampal plant is designed to minimize the ENV impact of a coal fired thermal power plant.
Arshad Mansoor, Electricity Engineer From USA