AHMEDABAD: The implementation of the ambitious emission trading scheme (ETS) for Narol industrial units to curb particulate matter (PM) 2.5 emission has slowed down significantly. One of reasons is availability of semiconductors required to assemble the Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) — which is the key instrument required for the ETS.
The machine consists of a combination of sensors and flow meters. Senior Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) officials said that 119 CEMS machines were planned for installation across industrial units, but only 98 sensors and 70 odd flow meters could be arranged. “The company installing CEMS machines imports it from Germany. But since China supplies some key semiconductor components for this instrument, there are issues with the assembly of the instruments,” said the senior GPCB official.
He added that the installation of the CEMS machines will be completed by September end while the ETS trading will begin by November end or early December. “There has been a slight delay because of the semiconductor shortage. More than 100 units have paid us in advance for CEMS installation,” said the GPCB official. India’s first ETS scheme for PM 2.5 was launched for Surat industries in 2019. After the Surat launch, Ludhiana and Ahmedabad were announced as the next targets for the implementation of the scheme.
