News
Severe air pollution: Experts propose switch to liquefied natural gas
View(s):An expert committee has recommended to the Government to switch to the use of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) for the country’s power generation, transport and industry.
This is after findings that 60 per cent of the air pollution in Colombo City was the result of a greater dependence on fossil fuels as a source of energy. The Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy has also noted that air quality in certain urban areas too has deteriorated due to this factor. At present about 40 per cent of the country’s energy needs are met by fossil fuels or petroleum products and coal.
The expert committee was commissioned by a five-member Cabinet Sub Committee that examined the subject of enhancing the quality of fossil fuels for managing air quality in Sri Lanka. It was chaired by Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha and included Petroleum Industries Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Transport Minister Kumara Welgama.
During their deliberations, the committee decided to appoint a technical committee of eight experts to go into different aspects. It was later expanded with seven more being co-opted.
Among the aspects it was called upon to examine were the status of fossil fuel use, existing ambient air quality, impact on environment and the socio economic factors. The expert committee was chaired by B.M.U.D. Basnayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy. The experts committee also recommended the use of high quality fuel in the country in keeping with Euro IV standards. Among the other recommendations of the committee are:
- Harmonize fuel quality standards with emission and ambient air quality standards with the use of sound air quality modelling methodology, while taking into consideration technology and status trends.
- To establish independent fuel quality testing laboratory in the Central Environmental Authority to monitor the quality of fuel distributed in sales outlets and other types of fuel used in the country.
- Establish a Fuel Quality Management Committee in the Ministry of Environment and Renewable Energy with representatives of other relevant ministries.