India proposes amendment to Emission Standards for PM from Industrial Boilers

On June 29, 2022, the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) announced proposed rules to amend the emission standards for particulate matter (PM) from industrial boilers as stipulated in the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, and is soliciting comments for 60 days. These rules will establish new emission standards for PM based on the steam generating capacity (ton/hour) of the boiler. For example, for an industrial boiler with a steam generating capacity of 2 to less than 10, it is proposed to amend the PM emission level from 800 mg/Nm³ to 150 mg/Nm³ to strengthen the rules. In addition, a standard of 50 mg/Nm³ has been established for industrial boilers with a steam generating capacity of 10 or more. These standards will apply to industrial boilers fuelled by coal/lignite, pet coke, bagasse fuels and agricultural waste, and power plant boilers fuelled by bagasse fuels and agricultural waste. Therefore, if this amendment is published, the existing emission standards for bagasse combustion boilers and agricultural waste-based boilers will be deleted.