India eyeing GCC, Arab markets for fly ash export
NEW DELHI, July 6, 2021
India is exploring avenues to export its excess stocks of fly ash - a by-product from electricity generation in thermal power plants - to markets in the Gulf and the rest of the Arab world.
Fly ash is used in road-building and is a sturdy raw material in constructing flyovers. It is widely used by the cement industry and in the manufacture of bricks and tiles for various construction purposes.
The state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) this week invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the export of fly ash specifically from the GCC and Arab countries through tender, reported state news agency Wam.
The tender application, which is now open, will close on July 25. Around 14.5 million tonnes of fly ash has been earmarked for export this year, stated the report citing the Ministry of Power.
Under the norms set by India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, it is mandatory that thermal plants should utilise the entire by-product of fly ash from thermal plants from their fourth year of operation.
India has a creditable record of using all its output of fly ash, mainly in its massive road-building projects and its sprawling construction industry, the report stated.
India has 101 power plants which generate fly ash that are monitored by the Central Electricity Authority, said the Wam report. Penalties are imposed on them by the government if these power plants are unable to put all their fly ash to productive use, it added.
