Impacts of coal fired power plantNorochcholai, Sri Lanka

PABASARA GUNAWARDANE

OUTLINE• Introduction

• The EIA Report

• Predicted impacts

• Mitigation measures

• Actual impacts

• Recommendations

INTRODUCTION

• Sri lanka’s only coal fired power station

• Located in Narakkalli, Norochcholai in Puttalam district

• Proposed in 1993

• Implementation ‘cancelled’ or ‘suspended’ due to public protests

• Total area is 92ha

• Mixed residence (Roman Catholics & Muslims)

• Livelihood- Farming & Fishing

• EIA was done in March 1998

• Construction on the facility began on 11 May 2006

• First 300 MW phase commissioned in 22 March 2011

THE EIA REPORT• PP – Ceylon Electricity Board• PAA – Coast Conservation Department• Mainly focused on

The power station land The transmission line land Marine resources and sea water quality Ground water resources and quality Cooling water effluents Solid & liquid wastes Air quality & noise Socio-economic aspects

PREDICTED IMPACTSPhysical Environment

• Probability of salt water intrusion due to agricultural activities &construction activities

• No impact on ground water from coal stock piles & ash dump• No impact from discharging of warm water to the ocean• Generation of solid waste- fly ash, bottom ash, coal & other dusts,

sludge from sewage plant• Liquid waste generation- run off water from coal stock yard,

effluents from sea water de- salinizing unit• Emission of SO2, NO2 & other gases

PREDICTED IMPACTSBiotic Environment

• No significant impact on terrestrial ecology• During unloading coal to the jetty & transporting on the 4.2km conveyor,

coal can be dropped into the ocean• But, will have an immeasurable impact on marine flora & fauna• No permanent impact on marine environment by warm water release• Emission of fly ash and particulate matter can affect agriculture

PREDICTED IMPACTSSocio-economic Environment

• Due to construction, 71 families will loss their houses and lands

• The nearby villagers can be affected by the secondary impacts caused by the project ( Changes in air, water quality)

MITIGATING MEASURESPhysical Environment

• Hydro-geological investigations should be conducted• Sheet piling and wall barriers should be constructed• Waste water from ash dump & coal storage should collected

and treated before release• De-dusting, vacuuming equipment should be used to avoid dust• Leachates should be collected and treated• Un-recyclable bottom wet ash should be deposited in a geotextile

covered landfill• Construction of a stack with height of 150m is recommended to meet

ambient air quality standards

MITIGATING MEASURESBiotic Environment

• When unloading coal, safety measures should be followed to avoid spillage• The standard methods should be followed to minimize coal dust• The temperature of releasing warm water should be maintained below 40˚C• The transmission line should be made visible for the birds to avoid collisions

MITIGATORY MEASURESSocio-economic Environment

• Compensation through proper resettlement should be established• After the power station is set its operations should not affect the beach and

its users

ACTUAL IMPACTS

• Spread of fly ash which gets carried over long distances by the wind. • Norochcholai Coal plant will emit 28456 tonnes CO2 daily• Lack of monitoring the emissions• Releasing warm water is warmer than 40˚C• Can affect ocean currents and marine life• It is expected to generate 70,000 tons of fly ash annually from the

coal power plant• The main impacts of land filling of fly ash include contamination of soils

and water especially due to highly alkaline leachate• The plant’s two jetties have reduced the shore area

ACTUAL IMPACTS• Coal ash is said to contain traces of heavy metals including mercury,

cadmium, arsenic and even radio-active substances, the actual composition depending on the source

RECOMMENDATIONS

• The importing coal should fulfill the required standards• Proper frequent monitoring system should be established• More priority should be given for alternatives• More studies should be conducted about the long term impacts• Fly ash could be used as a raw material for other industries • EIA reports should reveal the real situation of the impacts• Mass scale projects should establish with

good quality workmanship

PERSONAL CONTACTS

Mr. Ajith U.K EthugalaSenior Environmental Officer (EIA)Central Environmental Authority,ajithethugala@gmail.com,Mobile : +94719332876

• B.R. Jayasekara and U.A.D.P. Gunawardena, Economics of utilization of fly-ash originating from the coal-power plant Norochcholai, http://environmentlanka.com/blog/2010

• Padma Kumari Kankanamge, Puttalam power plant: coal dust and erosion stoke villagers’ ire http://puttalamonline.com/2012-08-19/puttalam-puttalam-news/regional-news/13446 (accessed 25th Aug. 2014)

• Effects of Norochcholai coal power project, http://www.scribd.com/doc/31536194/EFFECTS-OF-NOROCHCHOLAI-COAL-POWER-PLANT-PROJECT

• Nimashi Amaleeta, Kalpitiya, Karaitivu, Puttalam complex, http://www.nation.lk/2007/11/04/eyefea7.htm

• Hemantha Withanage, Norochcholai Coal Power Plant : Is it environment friendly?, http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2004/10/03/fea19.html

• Study estimates health impact of coal-fired power plants in Indiahttp://www.env-health.org/news/latest-news/article/study-estimates-health-impact-of

• Ajmal M and Khan MA, Effects of coal-fired thermal power plant discharges on agricultural soil and crop plants, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3956466

REFERENCES

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