Section A.

Context

Table 4: Estimated PCDD/PCDF releases

Subcategories

Production
(TJ/a)

Air

Water

Land

Product

Residue

1,198,109

4.537

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

5.790

Coal

413,417

4.134

5.790

Light fuel oil/natural

gas

779,650

0.390

n.a.

Biomass power
plants
from wood fired power
boilers

558,000

27.900

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

8.370

House hold heating

and cooking
from virgin
wood/biomass fired
stoves

4,775

0.480

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

0.096

House hold heating

and cooking
from natural gas and
coal fired stoves

23,787

0.417

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

0.028

Fossil fuel power

plants

Landfill, biogas
combustion

Total

36.

c.

Annual release (g I-TEQ/a)

33.34

14.28

The major fuel sources are biomass and lignite (in power plants) that contribute to
PCDDs/PCDFs releases. Other significant sources are household heating and cooking where
mainly virgin wood/biomass/coal/natural gas fired stoves are used.
Type of power and industrial boilers in the ESEA region

37.

The preliminary results of data collection carried out by questionnaires were presented in the
Third Regional Consultation Workshop held Bangkok, Thailand, on 16-18 March 2009. These
data were used to start the identification of the number and type of boilers, the fuel
consumptions, the technologies used, and their relevance to the reduction of POPs emissions.
Additionally, the questionnaires were a useful tool to collect information on the energy policies of
the countries. The data collection was then continued and the new set of improved data was
received also through questionnaires in February-March 2009.

38.

The number of boilers reported in national official reports and through returned questionnaires is
given in Table 5 below:
Table 5: Reported number of boilers in the six (6) participating countries
Country

Number of power boilers

(fossil fuel or biomass)
Reported at
national level

Cambodia

164 districts with

generators for
electricity
production

Number of industrial boilers

Returned through
questionnaires

Reported at
national level

Returned through
questionnaires

168 diesel generators in

garment industry for
internal electricity
requirement
320 diesel generators
for electricity production
for public consumption
and 65 boilers running
on different fuels

415 in the garment

industry

280
Garment industry

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Section A. Context

Country

Number of power boilers

(fossil fuel or biomass)
Reported at
national level

Indonesia

Returned through
questionnaires

25 Power plants

17 power plants

47 power boilers
15 combined cycle
100 open cycle
more than 60
diesel

27 power boilers
8 combined cycle
6 open cycle
11 diesel

Number of industrial boilers

Reported at
national level

Returned through
questionnaires

not available

180

no diesel generators
3,458 diesel
generators
Lao PDR

no fossil fuel
or biomass
power plants

25,000 factories
reported*

89

Mongolia

7 power plants
49 boilers

7 power plants
49 power boilers

2,500

81

Philippines

21 power plants
62 power boilers
(only fossil fuels)

21 power plants
62 power boilers (only
fossil fuels)

6,000 nationwide
2,432 Manila region

Thailand

51 power plants
217power boilers

40 power plants
149 power boilers

6673

144 other regions

2,736

* The number of boiler units in the reported factories was not reported

39.

It can be noted that for some countries the returned questionnaires for power generation sector
cover a representative share of the total numbers of units in the region, while the returned
questionnaires for industrial boilers could only provide data for a preliminary assessment of the
sector.

Industrial boilers
40.

The types of reported industrial boilers through the questionnaires in the region were grouped
according to the fuel used, size and type.

Type of fuels
41.

In the industrial sector the fuels used range from natural gas to LPG, distillate oils, coal and
various types of biomass.

42.

Out of 4,985 industrial boilers in the questionnaires, it appears that fossil fuels (especially coal
and fuel oils) account for the main share (79 %) among all the reported fuels. As far as biomass
are concerned, wood based boilers are widely used in the region, while other types or mixed
fuels are specifically reported by single countries.

43.

It has to be noted that, in some cases, only information on fossil fuel or biomass fired boilers
have been reported, hence data can not be considered representative of the country situation.
Some more studies are needed to better understand the baseline situation for biomass
(difference of reported clean and waste wood, use of bagasse and spent oil).

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Section A. Context

Total Fossil fuels

212

38

81

1,581

2,032

3,950

Total biomass and

others

68

140

127

700

1,035

Total

280

178

133

81

1,581

2,732

4,985

Table 6: Type of fuels used in industrial boilers

Industrial boilers
Fuels
Cambodia

Indonesia

Coal

24

Fuel oil

37

Lao PDR

Mongolia

81

Philippines

Thailand

44

154

1,270

1,891

3,200

Light fuel oil

271

Natural gas

271

95

LPG

33

Diesel

170

10

55

Waste wood
Bagasse

Shell&fibre

71

Mixed biomass

11

Mixed fuels &

biomass

20

Spent oil

188

105

105

407

464

178

178

13
71

82

93
20

Unspecified
TOTAL

104
33

Rice husk
Clean wood

Total

13

32

42

280

178

133

81

1,581

90

2,732

4,985

Type of reported fuels in ESEA region

6000
4985
5000
3950
4000

3000

2000
1035
1000

0
Total Fossil fuels

Total biomass and others

Grand Total

Figure 1: Type of reported fuels in ESEA region

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Section A. Context

Size and type of boilers

44. 3,254 boilers and 3,282 other units were grouped by size and type, respectively, due to the lack of

data or because for some countries, no information was available at all.

45. The partition by size was carried out according to the following ranges:

- Small boilers: 1-5,000 Kg/h steam produced

- Medium boilers: 5,000-10,000 Kg/h steam produced
- Large boilers: > 10,000 Kg/h steam produced
46. For Philippines (reference measurement unit were BHP) according to:

- Small boilers: < 3,130 Kg/h

- Medium boilers: 3,130-9,390 Kg/h
- Large boilers: 9,391-12,520 Kg/h
47. Most of the reported equipment are quite aged tube-fired and water tube type, and can be

considered in the category small boilers, with the exception of Indonesia (the sample could not
be representative). Few fluidized bed furnaces are reported in new plants.
48. As reference, Cambodia reported the country of manufactures of the industrial boilers. It appears

that the most recent units come from China and Taiwan, while the oldest ones come from
Western countries.
Table 7: Reported size of boilers by capacity

Countries
Cambodia
Indonesia (*)
Lao PDR
Mongolia
Philippines
Thailand
Total

Small
211
75%
18
12%
n.a.
5
6%
n.a.
1912
70%
2146
66%

Industrial boilers
Size of boilers by capacity *
Medium
Large
21
8%
2
1%
12
8%
114
77%
n.a.
n.a.
11
14%
36
44%
n.a.
n.a.
540
20%
293
11%
584
18%
445
14%

Not classified
46
16%
4
3%
n.a.
29
36%
n.a.
0%
0
2%
79

* Based on the returned quetionnaires ( only 148 boilers were taken into account)

Size of reported industrial boilers in partecipating countries

not classified
79
2%
large 445
14%

medium 584
18%
small 2146 66%

Figure 2: Size of reported industrial boilers in participating countries

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Section A. Context

Table 8: Reported type of industrial boilers

Countries
Fire tube

Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Mongolia
Philippines (*)
Thailand
Total

Industrial boilers
Type of boilers
Water tubes

n.a
25
10
n.a
83
2376
2494

n.a
70
1
n.a
24
329
424

Other (cast
iron, fluidised
bed, furnaces)

Not
classified

n.a
10
84
n.a
9
16
119

n.a
80
41
n.a
33
10
164

* only returned questionnaires were taken into account

Type of industrial boilers in the participating countries

Not classified
164
5%
Other 119
4%

Water tube 424

13%

Fire tube 2494

78%

Figure 3: Size of reported industrial boilers in the participating countries

Pollution control devices

49.

Very few information were reported on the use of air pollution control devices (APCDs). The use
of them is rare (only few cyclones dust removal systems have been reported). The auxiliary
systems and the control parameters are much less sophisticated than in power stations and the
operators are not as skilled and as numerous as those in the power stations. The boiler
efficiency is therefore lower than in large boilers for production of electricity and the
implementation of BAT/BEP could be more difficult, but if properly applied it could lead to
significant reductions on PCDD/PCDF releases.

Power boilers
50.

The types of reported power boilers and generators through the questionnaires in the region
were grouped according to the fuel used, size and type.

Type of fuels
51.

Fossil fuels a account for 95 % of the total reported power units in the region, it must be outlined
that this figure is affected by diesel, that accounts for a large share of the reported fuels.
Cambodia reported a huge number of diesel generator sets (more than 50% of the total), which
are substantially very small and different from power boilers or turbines, and thus influencing the
overall regional assessment. Notwithstanding, the most practical approach for analysis of the
regional situation seemed to be based on the electricity production.

52.

It appears that the largest countries (Thailand, Indonesia and Philippine) report different fuels,
according to their national energy strategies. Excluding diesel, the most used fuels are natural
gas and coal. Natural Gas is extensively used in Thailand, whereas Mongolia used exclusively
coal (with some mazut).

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Section A. Context

53.

In Lao PDR, electricity is produced only by hydroelectric plants, therefore no comparison is

possible. Lao PDR also reported that a lignite power plant was at its planning stage.

54.

Gas turbine, combined cycle plants are widely used in the region, especially in Thailand and
Indonesia.
Table 9: Number of power generation units
Number of power generation units
Fuel

Cambodia

Indonesia

Lao
PDR

TOTAL FOSSIL FUELS

537

68

49

62

131

847

TOTAL BIOMASS AND

OTHERS

17

23

TOTAL

543

68

49

62

148

870

Mongolia Philippines Thailand

Total

Table 10: Reported type of fuel used in power generation

Number of power generation units
Fuels
Cambodia Indonesia
Coal
Heavy fuel oil
Diesel oil
Natural gas/
Heavy Fuel oil
Natural gas/
Light oil
Natural gas
Rice husk
Wood
Sewer gas
Bagasse
TOTAL

2
40
495

Lao PDR

14
5
37
9

Mongolia

Philippines

Thailand

Total

49

14
6
38

13
2
6

92
53
570
15

104
6
1
2
8

111
7
6
2
8

62

148

870

3
1
5

543

68

49

Type of fuel used in reported power boilers

Bagasse
Sewer gas

8
2

Wood

Rice husk

Natural gas

111

Natural gas/Light oil

Natural gas/Fuel oil

15

Diesel oil

570

Heavy fuel oil

53

Coal

92
0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Figure 4: Reported type of fuel used in power boilers

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Section A. Context

Table 11: Type of power generation units

Type of power generation units

Type of units
Cambodia Indonesia
Diesel generators

495

Lao PDR

Mongolia

38
8

Boilers-Wall fired

37

Fluidised bed

Gas turbine

Not specified boiler

2
48

28

543

68

49

Total
571
8

42
2

49

53

43

49

16

44

138

148

870

Other
Total

Thailand

38

Boilers -Tangentially
fired

Combined cycle
CCGT

Philippines

62

Conclusions
55.

56.

The industrial boilers population is not yet completely known, but according to the data received
the following conclusions can be made:

The estimated number of industrial boilers in the region is about 5,000 based on the
returned questionnaires and those reported at national level numbers to about 18,000.
There is, therefore, a high potential for replicability and sustainability of activities envisaged
by the project.

Small boilers/furnaces using obsolete technologies represent the greater part of the total
number. Second hand boilers, whose age and characteristics, are not identifiable are
commonly sold in the region.

The combustion efficiency of most boilers is low, due to lack of maintenance and unskilled
operations.

Even in large industrial facilities, it has been reported that energy efficiency measures are
rarely taken.

Many small boilers in the region does not have air pollution control (APC) devices installed
and treatment of the residue (fly ash) may require more attention to avoid pollution to the
environment. The personnel/managers often ignore the problems related with inadequate
disposal of waste.

Fossil fuel (coal and oil) are widely used in industrial boilers, along with considerable
amount of local biomass, such as wood, bagasse or rice husk. Since the PCDD/PCDFs
emission factors for biomass and even for coal and oil (particularly spent oil), when used in
old facilities are expected to be quite high, a special attention in the market trends and
national energy plans should be paid.

A high number of power boilers have been reported through the questionnaires. This gives
a very good picture of the regional characteristics, both in the use of fuels and in the
technologies applied.

The following issues can be highlighted:

As a result of the inventory, the population of power boilers in the region has been basically
identified. Power boilers can be considered in the medium/large category, (with exception
of Cambodia and Lao, where small diesel units appear to be the only type of engine used
for electricity production).

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Section A. Context

57.

The technology used in the power plants is at the state of the art of technology and in some
case (Thailand and Philippines) comparable with those of more industrialized countries. In
these countries, the operation practices for the reduction of the emissions of the main
pollutants (PM, SOx, NOx) are enforced.

Gas, oil and coal power plant are the majority and are of high capacity.

If the fuel fired is local coal, with low heating value and has high sulphur content,
combustion operations can increase PCDD/PCDF and particulate emissions..

The plant efficiency is kept at its maximum value, according to the load and fuel used,
primarily to increase the production of electricity. This has an important impact on the
reduction of pollutant emissions.

The operation of power plants is generally performed by skilled, dedicated, personnel, who
is sensitive to the environmental impact of the emissions, however is not aware of the
problems associated with POPs.

Although the power generation sector has low Emission Factors rate, according to the
UNEP toolkit values, the high mass flow involved and the huge dimensions of the boilers
can result in high mass emissions . Therefore a particular attention to the implementation of
BAT/BEP should be paid in order to obtain, as far as possible, the best feasible combustion
conditions. The trend on electricity production will be a crucial factor that could increase the
production of PCDD/PCDFs from power boilers.

A more detailed situation analysis for each participating country is given in Annex 3.

d. Regulatory context
Cambodia
58.

The NIP for the SC on POPs in Cambodia prepared by the Ministry of Environment was
endorsed by the Council of Ministers on 2 June 2006. Cambodia became a party on 25 August
2006. In the NIP one of the country priorities aims at introduction and promotion of BAT and
BEP in existing industrial plants that are using wood as the main fuel and high calorific value
waste for co-incineration (Chapter 3: Proposed priority projects, page 96: Project profile No.7:
Introduce BAT and BEP for reducing POPs releases).

59.

The Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management was adopted by
the National Assembly on 24 December 1996. It is a fundamental framework for the
development of environmental regulation such as sub-decrees, ministerial declarations,
circulations, codes and standards for environmental quality protection and natural resources
management. The main purposes of this law are to protect environmental quality from pollution
by chemicals and other hazardous wastes through inventory and environmentally sound
management of pollutants. A number of environmental legislations and legal instruments were
developed and approved aiming at supporting the effectiveness of the implementation and
enforcement of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management.

60.

The approved environmental legislation and other laws related to natural resources
management are as follows:
Sub-decree No.27 Or-Nor-Kror.Bor-Kor on water pollution control, issued on 6 April 1999.
Sub-decree No.36 Or-Nor-Kror.Bor-Kor on solid waste management, issued on 27 April
1999.
Sub-decree No.42 Or-Nor-Kror.Bor-Kor on air pollution and noise disturbance, issued on
10 July 2000.
Sub-decree No.72 Or-Nor-Kror.Bor-Kor on environmental impact assessment, issued on
11 August 1999.
Law on the management and exploitation of mines resources, adopted on 13 July 2001.

61.

Based on the above legal instruments, there are few laws and regulations addressing POPs
issues such as the ban of POPs-pesticides, liquid waste discharge standards covering PCBs,
etc. Nevertheless, these regulations do not describe in detail measures to deal with POPs
related issues as well as management procedures for the protection of human health and the

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