The drive has pushed about half the 1,695 units in a cluster of small industries around one of the world's most polluted capitals to use biomass, regulators told Reuters, up from fewer than 15% counted in a 2020 study.
Textile recyclers, dyers and food processors in the city in the northern state of Haryana, along with those in neighbouring Sonipat and Faridabad, have quickly switched away from coal, the previous fuel of choice. It was the primary fuel for about a quarter of all industries in Haryana's three major clusters near New Delhi."Many petcoke traders became coal traders after a ban on petcoke in 2017," said Kamaljeet Singh, a senior pollution control official in Panipat. "Now hundreds of coal traders have become biomass traders."
About 81% of the 398 industrial units operating in Panipat alone have converted to biomass, Singh added, devouring coal's share of 56.2% in 2020. "Because of these restrictions, Panipat industries are finding it extremely difficult to compete," said Bhim Rana, president of a dyers' association in the city.
I think you've got your prices/weights wrong there, guys. $94 a kg?
That's huge... And I know just the man for the job, Mr. Adani!