MoEFCC ends mandatory coal washing for TPPs

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change’s (MoEFCC) amended the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to do away with mandatory coal washing for supply to thermal power plants (TPPs). As per the ministry’s gazette notification, use of coal by TPPs without stipulations regarding ash content or distance will be permitted. Earlier, power stations located within 500-1,000 km were stipulated to use coal with ash content not exceeding 34 per cent on a quarterly average basis.