NEW DELHI: The government is considering banning import of pet coke — a cheap but polluting fuel widely used by cement, paper, brick kiln, chemicals and textile industries —to cut industrial pollution that’s contributing to hazy skies.
The Supreme Court has already forbidden the use of this fuel in the National Capital Region as intense smog over Delhi earlier this month prompted a series of measures including advancing of BS-VI fuel introduction in Delhi. The possible ban will be discussed on Tuesday, when oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan deliberates the issue with secretaries of several departments, including environment, commerce, industry, heavy industries, and micro, small and medium enterprises, people familiar with the matter said. Heads of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, as well as state-run oil companies, will also participate in the meeting, they said.
The meeting has been called after an interministerial consultation led by the Prime Minister’s Office nearly ten days ago directed ministries to consider several key steps to curb pollution, including advancing BS-VI fuel introduction deadline and banning the import of pet coke, a refinery byproduct. Banning pet coke import would make users switch to alternatives such as coal and natural gas. It may also raise local prices of pet coke, squeezing margins of consumers.
Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority for the National Capital Region (EPCA), an official panel constituted under the Supreme Court’s direction, has been demanding a ban on the import of pet coke, citing its extremely polluting nature and a surge in its import in recent years. Sulphur level found in pet coke is 65,000-75,000 parts per million (ppm), dramatically higher than 4,000 ppm in coal, according to EPCA.
But its relative high heat value and cheaper availability quadrupled its consumption in the country in five years to 24 million tonnes in 2016-17.
Of the total, 60%, or 14 million tonnes, was imported, mainly from the US (60%) ad Saudi Arabia (26%). The import of pet coke quadrupled in just four years, with 2016-17 registering a 43% rise over the previous year. Industries switched to pet coke from pulverised coal as global prices fell, according to EPCA’s report. China, until recently a big importer of pet coke, has banned its import and the US has severely restricted its use, leading to lower prices.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com