Shazand thermal power plant in Markazi Province has started burning mazut since 10 days ago, 37 days sooner than the time it began using the liquid fuel last year.
A steam turbine power plant with a capacity of 1,300 megawatts, it runs on dual fuel. The primary fuel used for power generation is gas. However, in case of gas shortage, the plant can also run on mazut, ISNA reported.
Mazut is a heavy, low quality fuel oil used as an alternative to run thermal power plants and factories.
With the onset of winter and higher household gas consumption, gas supply to power plants may be disrupted as priority shifts to households, which forces power plants to use liquid fuel.
Using mazut has been a routine in Shazand power plant in previous years during winter, as it is not provided with enough gas. The power station consumed more than 470 million liters of mazut last year, registering a record in this regard.
However, with one month left to the beginning of winter and the weather not so cold, Shazand power plant has started burning mazut.
In the past 10 days, brownish smoke associated with burning mazut rising from the power plant’s flue-gas stack has been seen but no comments have been made by the relevant authorities and no response has yet been given to address public concerns.
The burning of natural gas produces pale white smoke, whereas using mazut for energy production leads to the emission of brown smoke that is carried over kilometers by wind and remain in the air for hours, adding to the issue of air pollution.
Mazut is not suitable for power plants because it doubles maintenance costs, increases water consumption and decreases output. However, when power plants do not receive adequate gas, they need to either reduce output or burn liquid fuel to avoid outages in regions under their electricity coverage.
