ORIGINAL RESEARCH
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
and the Impact of Coal-Based Energy Projects
on Tropospheric Ozone in Pakistan
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Department of Development Studies, School of Social Sciences and Humanities (S3H),
National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
Submission date: 2019-07-12
Final revision date: 2019-10-02
Acceptance date: 2019-10-08
Online publication date: 2020-04-15
Publication date: 2020-06-08
Corresponding author
Ramsha Munir
National University Of Science and Technology, H-12 Sector, 44000, Islamabad, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(5):3729-3747
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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.