THIS refers to Syed Muhammad Abubakar’s article ‘Life under the shadow of a coal-fired power plant’ (Eos, Dec 15). I wish to draw your, his and readers’ attention to the Sahiwal coal power project/plant photo taken and included in the article by the writer.

The photo clearly shows white emissions coming out of the high chimneys.

Environmental experts know well that the white emissions (not black or brown owing to coal unburnt particles emission) are clean steam/water vapours formed from scrubber water because of the very high temperature of the outcoming hot gases (during coal-burning).

This means a most effective process has been employed to minimise exposure and to protect environment and safeguard public health, especially the local population.

I wish the writer while concluding his article had not ignored the reality of substantial reduction in the painful hours of long ‘loadshedding’ across the country in both summer and winter and the dire energy needs of hospitals, educational institutions, households and industry in the country.

Dr Mahmood A. Khwaja

Islamabad

 

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1523652/coal-fired-plant