Phulpur Farmers
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Project type |
Not specified |
|
Location |
India |
|
Standard |
Voluntary Carbon Standard |
|
Status |
Ongoing |
|
Portfolio |
General Portfolio 2011 |
|
Total ERs |
80,000 tonnes |
Background
Naphtha is a highly carbon intensive fossil fuel made from the distillation of petroleum or coal. It is also toxic and can have severe health implications on contact. It’s use is widespread throughout India as a fuel in the fertiliser production process, where it is used to convert ammonia and carbon dioxide to the fertiliser urea whilst emitting high levels of greenhouse gases. Urea is the most common form of fertiliser because it is high in Nitrogen, is manageable and easy to transport.
Through carbon financing, an opportunity has arisen to switch from naphtha fuel to cleaner natural gas at a fertiliser plant in Uttar Pradesh, paving the way for other factories in the industry to follow suit
The project
 |
The project is at a fertiliser plant which is run by a local farmers’ cooperative. It involves a number of conversions and installations of various pieces of technology to enable a switch from naphtha fuel to cleaner natural gas. This has included modifications to the desulphuriser, feed heaters, the primary reformers, a gas turbine generator, a heat recovery unit and a boiler. As part of this project the natural gas supply also had to be secured via the procurement of a supply contract. The project is the first of its kind in the industry and expects to generate significant emissions reductions each year. |
The benefits
Social
- The success of this project will encourage other fertiliser manufacturers across India to come up with greenhouse gas abatement projects. Fertiliser is subsidised in India to allow farmers affordable access, but the current policies and regulations do not provide any motivation for fuel switch projects such as this. It is hoped that this flagship project will lead the way for future policy change, in turn leading to vast amounts of emissions reductions.
Economic
- Capacity building for workers in the form of technical training and development
Environmental
- Improved air quality in the plant and surroundings. Naphtha is a toxic hydrocarbon, and its elimination at the project site will reduce risk to the health of the workers at the factory.