The Central Electricity Authority and Power Ministry to work on new guidelines to restrict the use of lead electricity transmission cables.
March 17, 2019
The Ministry of Power is likely to issue new norms for bringing greener options of electricity transmission cables like aluminum to protect environment from ill-effects of lead-based equipment, according to a source.
Admitting that lead electricity transmission cables are an environmental hazard and poisonous, the Ministry of Power along the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), has been discussing issue with industry players to bring new guidelines to avoid use of the material.
According to World Health Organization estimates, 240 million people globally are overexposed to lead poisoning. The lead-based metallic sheath used in power cables for earthing and anti-corrosion purposes contributes to 35-48 per cent of the weight of cables of voltage levels ranging from 66 kV to 220 kV.
A single kilometer of cable, which weighs about 20 tonne/km has lead content of almost 8 tonne/km. The underground power cables have an average life span of 25-30 years and once they are laid, they are never dismantled.
As reported in a leading daily, huge amount of lead is lying buried underground and probably seeping into the soil, water-tables and the ecosystem adding to environmental damage. The aluminum-based cable sheaths are greener and cheaper alternative than lead and switching to greener alternatives is an obvious choice to protect the environment and health concerns. The power cable manufacturers need to be further encouraged to innovate more and prove the alternatives as rugged and reliable as lead sheathed cables. The manufacturers of lead-based power cables also have the capability to manufacture non-lead-based alternatives. However, there is no push for greener options by some of the state utilities due to lack of government directive on this.
