Andhra Pradesh

Project indicates scope to cut CO2 emissions

HYDERABAD: Initial results of a major project taken up by scientists with the long-term objective of capturing and storing carbon dioxide in the earth to reduce emissions have been encouraging. They indicated the scope for carbon dioxide sequestration in basalt rock formations in the Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP).

With increasing carbon dioxide emissions causing environmental pollution and leading to global warming, one of the methods being studied world over to curb them is to capture and store carbon dioxide in a suitable geological place for longer periods. Funded by the Department of Science and Technology, the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) launched the three-year project for geological carbon dioxide sequestration in basalt formations of Western India in 2006.

NGRI director V.P. Dimri told The Hindu that basalt samples collected from DVP were injected with carbon dioxide along with primary minerals, like calcium and magnesium, which led to formation of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate respectively.

Dr. Dimri said NGRI was also exploring to sequester carbon dioxide to increase oil recovery from heavy oil fields in the country. Discussions were on with Norwegian institutions to take up the project jointly.

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