China-Pakistan economic corridor and the impact of coal-based energy projects on tropospheric ozone in Pakistan

Abstract

The aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of coal-fired power plants (CFPP) under CPEC on tropospheric ozone concentrations in Pakistan. The emissions from the coal plants located at Sahiwal and Port Qasim are measured using data from the ‘AURA’ NASA Satellite and processing using Rstudio, ARC map and Google Maps to obtain raster images. The concentration changes from the year 2010-2017 were recorded according to the buffer zones created around each coal power plant. Results showed that through the commencement of coal-fired power plants, the concentration of tropospheric ozone in those areas increased substantially from 2015 onwards. The results also showed that in winter 2017, the ozone concentration increased 7-8% due to the operationalization of CFPP at Sahiwal and Port Qasim. This study gave evidence on the significant relationship of CFPPs on the increased formation of tropospheric ozone, hence concluding some degree of environmental degradation due to energy projects under CPEC.