The hazards of coal-fired power plants

The scientific community overwhelmingly agree on clear and persuasive evidence that earth's climate is being affected by human activities. Ozone 'hole' discovery in 1980s drew global attention leading to Kyoto Protocol on climate change due to global warming attributed to emission of Green House Gas (GHG), mainly carbon dioxide, principally from burning fossil fuel (coal, oil, natural gas, etc.) in electricity power plants.

A new Clean Air Act rule by the US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) requires most new power plants to produce no more CO2 than a typical new natural gas plant. The proposal may help discourage construction of new coal-fired power plants in the future.

In April 2007, the US Supreme Court ruled that the EPA is both authorised and obligated to regulate CO2 emissions under the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Appeals Board of the EPA in November 2008 concluded that CO2 emissions must be addressed before issuing air pollution permits for a new coal-fired power plant. This set a precedent, stalling permits for all other proposed US coal-fired power plants.

Since 2001, there have been announcement of constructing more than  150 coal-fired power plants in the USA, but 111 of those projects have been defeated or abandoned. The bottom line is that there is now, in effect, a de facto moratorium on building of new coal-fired power plants in the USA and this sends a message to the world.

The Obama administration is considering new regulations for safe disposal of coal ash, and limiting emissions of mercury, soot, smog and global warming pollution from coal plants. To further strengthen the regulations, the US is also asking multilateral development banks like the World Bank to stop financing coal-fired power plants and advises them that they have the responsibility of building a financing framework that ensures mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and strengthens the developing countries' economies against climate change. Twenty-six coal-fired power plants were defeated or abandoned. Several companies also announced plans to start transitioning away from existing coal plants.

Many countries are already taking decisive moves to cut down share of coal-fired electricity by stopping new projects, replacing or retiring old plants, improving technology and plant efficiency.

Canada will phase out older coal-fired power plants to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions, and has planned to reduce coal-fired electricity generation capacity from 16,272MW in 2006 to 10,002 MW (6.1 per cent). Ontario currently has over 6,000MW of installed coal-fired generation capacity that it plans to retire by 2015 due to concern over coal's environmental effects.

Under Ottawa's proposal, power companies would have to close their coal-fired facilities as they reach the end of their commercial life, largely over the next 10 to 15 years. The companies would not be allowed to refurbish the plants to extend their usefulness or replace them with new coal units, unless they include technology to capture the carbon dioxide and sequester it underground. Two-thirds of the country's 51 current coal units should be retired by 2025.

Germany has stopped a total of nine projects. Denmark and New Zealand have already banned new coal-fired power plants. Other countries are likely to join this effort to cut carbon emissions.

Opposition is building up in India against coal-fired power plants. The government has taken up a modernisation and rehabilitation project which will rehabilitate and modernise around 200-220 MW capacity at each of the three coal-fired power plants in West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Haryana. It has been designated the first phase of India's National Renovation and Modernisation Programme. It aims to rehabilitate old and inefficient power plants with a cumulative capacity of 27,000 MW, or almost one-fifth of India's installed power capacity of 145,000 MW. Private electricity companies are also switching over to gas for new plants.

In India, a study in 2001 found that the inhabitants of 14 of India's 20 largest cities breathe air the government deems 'dangerous'. Particle emissions from coal power stations are a major contributor to the poor air quality.

Even China, which was building one new coal plant almost a week, is surging ahead with renewable energy development and will soon overtake the United States in wind electric generation.

CHINA CONCEDES TO PUBLIC DEMAND: In China, a 2,000-megawatt power plant was planned on the coast of South China Sea, 50 kilometres from the mega cities of Shenzhen of population of 10 million, and Hong Kong with a population of 7.0 million. Greenpeace estimated that the new power plant would cause 1,700 premature deaths over its operating life, despite being fitted with state-of-the-art SO2, NOx and particulate filters.

With terrible air pollution in the Pearl River Delta region around Hong Kong drawing increasing public ire, and air pollution episodes still fresh in people's memory, the project faced a thunderstorm of public opinion. This is a public that has woken up to the damage coal causes by living through 'Airpocalypse'. They are now recognising that coal-burning is the main cause of China's severe air pollution problem and they're not happy about it.

Following criticism in social and traditional media, 43 members of Hong Kong's People's Congress petitioned the administration to cancel the project and not to allow construction of any new coal-fired power plant anywhere within the city's borders. The administration reacted only a few weeks later, asking the power company to stop the plant construction. And just like that, local citizens halted an enormous coal plant.

This is the first project that has been cancelled mainly on the basis of concerns about air pollution. The public concern on air pollution and pressure to stem coal use will make it increasingly unlikely to implement new coal plants in pipeline now as well.

There is an increasing recognition that the air pollution crisis cannot be solved without putting brakes on coal consumption. For Chinese citizens - for citizens around the world for that matter - that news, and the steps average citizens are taking because of it, is really a good self-defence.

China aims to raise the share of non-fossil fuels to 15 per cent of total primary energy by 2020, up from 12 per cent at the end of last year.

It is now evident that deeper and wider research-based knowledge on the hazardous adverse effect of coal-fired power plants is alarming the world to transition away from coal-fired electricity generation.

BANGLADESH SCENARIO: Having known all these, it should not be difficult for Bangladesh to understand what should be its position as to coal-fired power plants, particularly those based on imported coal which brings about additional problems.

For industrial development and sustenance of people's living, Bangladesh will need installed power generation capacity of more than 55,000 MW as soon as soon as possible, say, by 2040 or so. We have to decide on fuel, assessment of technology to be used, financing and our own technical manpower build-up. We may not allow foreign investment to dump out-dated and inefficient polluting technology. It is necessary for Bangladesh to set up an institution of professionals, concerned citizens and experts to assess the technology to ensure protection of people's interest.

As on July 2016, the installed power generation capacity was about 12,725 MW, of which 250MW was domestic coal-fired; 230 MW was hydro electricity, 600MW import and 7,988MW (62.77 per cent) gas-fired.

To meet the increasing demand, the government envisages to expand the capacity to 24,000MW by 2021 and to 39,000MW by 2030. Coal-based generation capacity is estimated to be 20,000MW by 2030 (11,250MW by domestic coal; 8,400 MW by imported coal (about 30 million tons a year) and 4,000MW Nuclear). The coal-fired power plants are projected to be: Meghnaghat-2x600 MW, Zajira/New Megh-3x600MW, Moheshkhali- 4x600 MW, and Khulna- 2x660 MW. According to the plan, if we set up coal-based power plants and import about 30 million tons of coal per year within the plan period, anybody can imagine what will happen to our cup-shape Bay of Bengal. Mercury pollution will turn our Bay into Minamata Bay in Japan around which thousands of people are still suffering from incurable Minamata disease since long before May 1956 when it was first officially discovered.

The Bangladesh government has agreed to joint ventures with India for two imported coal-based power plants of about 1320 MW, each to be set up in Chittagong and Rampal, Khulna. Big areas are needed for storage of coal and coal ash and waste. Preparations are said to be afoot to acquire 1,200 acres of land in coastal area of Chittagong and 1,800 acres in Khulna for the projects.

Should we still think of coal-fired power plants, destroying the Sundarbans, vegetation, rivers, water bodies, ecosystem, coastal water and fisheries. The sea beaches will turn dirty. If hundreds of coal-carrying vessels ply the cup-shape Bay of Bengal with cheap dirty cargo, what will happen is anybody's guess. This may not happen overnight. Coal ash can spread over an area spanning up to 150,000 square kilometres (60,000 square miles). A single 100 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power plant emits approximately 25 pounds of mercury a year and 50 per cent of the mercury emitted can travel up to 600 miles from the power plant. Distance to and from the Sundarbans and height of chimney are not decisive factors.

If we do not act based on vast available knowledge and experience, our future generation may blame us.

A thorough study on all possible adverse impacts of coal-fired power plants with imported coal, and experience and survey data may show the researchers and political decision-makers a way out.

Though late, the government decision to set up floating LNG terminal, storage and re-gasification facilities is an indication of import of LNG, but terms and conditions must provide for induction of technology with freedom of purchase deal and carrying must remain with Bangladesh. In future, LNG-carrying vessel and storage tanks may be made locally in collaboration with professional manufacturers of repute and proven experience of 25 years or more. We must make it sure that large contract is awarded to contractors of countries which have effective anti-bribery law.

The writer is chairman, Institute of Development Strategy, Dhaka. The views expressed here are of the author's own and not necessarily of the organisation he represents.

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