*Step to generate crores of rupees through CER trading
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 4: Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) has begun the process to register its upcoming nine hydropower projects under the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in order to obtain the benefits for checking emission of greenhouse gases during energy generation.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation has engaged Delhi-based company-ITP Synergy as consultant through formal bidding for carrying out necessary exercise for registration of power projects for Clean Development Mechanism benefits under the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The company will shortly start the process of holding wide-ranging discussions with all the stakeholders of nine hydropower projects identified for registration under Kyoto Protocol as per the schedule prepared by the JKSPDC and complete the exercise by ending current month, sources said. After discussion with the stakeholders on the positive and negative impacts of these power projects, the company will prepare Project Design Document and Project Concept Note.
These nine projects are 1856 Mega Watt Sawalakote, 450 MW Baglihar-II, 930 MW Kirthai-II, 390 MW Kirthai-I, 93 Mega Watt New Ganderbal, 48 MW Lower Kalnai, 37.5 MW Parnai and 9 MW each Dah and Hanu. Of these projects, two are in Ladakh region (Dah and Hanu), one in Kashmir valley (New Ganderbal) and six in Jammu region. The New Ganderbal power project is coming up on tributary of Jhelum, Dah and Hanu on Indus tributary, Parnai also on Jhelum tributary and rest on River Chenab.
In response to a question, sources said, “at present no power project in Jammu and Kashmir is registered under the Kyoto Protocol as all were established prior to adoption of this regime in India”. Though attempt was made to register Baglihar-I under the international treaty on climate change yet it didn’t yield positive result as the guidelines say that exercise to register project should be started at the project conception stage and efforts were made at a time when work on the project had already been started, sources added.
Disclosing that prior consideration of these nine projects has already been done by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is a positive step, sources said, “we are hopeful of these power projects getting registered as hydropower generation helps in reduction of greenhouse gases in one way or the other”.
Responding to another question, sources said, “following the preparation of Project Design Document and Project Concept Note, the JKSPDC will engage UNFCCC empanelled Validator, which will carry out further exercise to get the projects registered”. “The Validator will help in placing the projects before the Executive Board of United Nationals Framework Convention on Climate Change and if all goes well the projects will get registered”, they added.
Stating that J&K has a definite claim for Clean Development Mechanism as hydropower generation helps in reduction of greenhouse gases, sources said, “CDM allows emission-reduction projects in developing countries to earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits. Each CER could be earned through less emission of one ton of carbon dioxide and these CERs can be then traded and sold to the developed nations in the carbon market”, sources added.
“Under UNFCCC, the developed nations can reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases on their own but it can be costly. They can purchase CERs from developing nations to contribute towards reducing emission of the gases or invest jointly in developing countries for reducing the gases level,” sources added.
When contacted, Managing Director of JKSPDC, Basharat Dhar confirmed that process has been initiated for registration of nine power projects under the international treaty on climate change, adding “if registered we will be in a position to earn crores of rupees annually through CERs”.
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