Question : DISAPPEARANCE OF FOSSIL FUELS

(a) whether NTPC and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) are jointly working on a coal based power project;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government have any other similar plans in view of the possible disappearance of fossil fuels due to over use of the same all over the world and the high costs involved therein;

(d) if so, whether the government have invested in research and development to reduce pollution from coal based energy and also in alternative fuels including non- conventional sources such as hydrogen and alcohol etc.; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER ( SHRIMATI JAYAWANTI MEHTA )

(a) & (b) : Yes, Sir. National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for setting up of a 1000 MW coal based power plant at Ennore, Chennai. Activities relating to formation of a Joint Venture Shell company, site selection etc., are in progress.

(c) to (e) : Coal is one of the conventional energy sources in the country. As per the assessment available in the Ministry of Coal, the coal reserves available in the country is not fast depleting.

Coal fired stations are required to comply with pollution norms prescribed by the Ministry of Environment & Forests.

Hydrogen-fueled power generating units have been developed and demonstrated under Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy sources funded projects. As a part of Research & Development projects, the use of hydrogen has been demonstrated for limited power generation through gensets and fuel cells. Fuel cells produce electricity by directly converting the chemical energy stored in a fuel through electromechanical process.

Development of technology for converting different non-edible oils to bio- diesel, exploring different routs of ethanol production, review of engine specifications for the use of biofuels and interest subsidy scheme for production of ethanol and other biofuel and manufacturing of engines/kits for using 10% and more ethanol/biofuel blend in petrol and diesel etc. are the components of biofuels programme being implemented by the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.