Prediction of the Allowed Sulphur Content in the Fuel Used by the Power Stations in Kuwait

In Kuwait, most of the power stations use fuel oil as the prime source of energy. The sulphur content (S%) of the fuel used as well as other factors have a direct impact on the ground level concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2) released by the power stations into the atmosphere. The SO2 ground level concentration has to meet the standards set by Kuwait Environmental Public Authority (KEPA). In this communication we present numerical results obtained using the Industrial Sources Complex Short Term (ISC-ST) numerical model. The model calculated the SO2 concentration resulting from existing power stations assuming a) zero background SO2 concentration and b) entire reliance on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO). Different scenarios represented by different S%, i.e. 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 3 and 4% were simulated. For all power stations, the annual SO2 concentrations for fuels with low sulphur content do not pose any risk on urban populations. Bubyan Island and Subiya are considered ideal locations for future power stations. The majority of the pollutants around Kuwait City results from emissions from Doha East and Doha West power stations. The results are expected to benefit Kuwait Petroleum Corporation in improving the quality of the fuel produced for consumption by the power stations in Kuwait in order to maintain an acceptable ground level of SO2.