Coal PSUs to Develop Major Thermal Power Projects in India
Neyveli Lignite Corporation of India Ltd. (NLCIL) and Coal India Limited (CIL) will be setting up multiple thermal power projects across the country. This information was shared in a PIB release from the Union Coal Ministry dated 7th August 2023.
Neyveli Lignite to Set Up Thermal Power Plants in UP and Odisha
Neyveli Lignite to Develop Ghatampur Thermal Power Plant in JV with UP Govt.
NLCIL in Joint Venture (JV) with Uttar Pradesh government will develop a thermal power project consisting of three units of 660 MW capacity each in Ghatampur, UP. Development cost of this upcoming thermal power project is Rs. 19,406 crore. The Ghatampur thermal power plant has been in the implementation phase and is likely to start generation by the end of 2023.
As per the PIB release this thermal power plant will supply 1,478.28 MW of power to UP and 492.72 MW of the power generated to Assam.
Neyveli Lignite to Commence Work on Talabira Thermal Power Plant
NLCIL will develop a pithead thermal power plant with three units of 800 MW capacity each near Talabira Coal mines in Odisha. This thermal power plant project will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 19,422 crore. NLCIL is expected to begin work on this plant by the end of the current year and it is expected to be completed by 2028-29.
Talabira thermal power plant will supply 1,450 MW and 400 MW of power to Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively while 100 MW will be procured by Puducherry.
Coal India Limited Forays into Thermal Power Generation
CIL Subsidiary to Set up 660 MW Thermal Power Unit in JV with MP Govt.
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL), a subsidiary of CIL, will set up a thermal power unit of 660 MW capacity at Amarkantak thermal power station in Madhya Pradesh. This power plant will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 5,600 crore. This upcoming power plant will be developed in JV with Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Ltd. (MPPGCL), a power GenCo of MP government. SECL will invest Rs. 857 crore as equity in this JV.
Work on this thermal power plant is expected to begin by the end of FY-24 and it is likely to be completed by 2028.
Mahanadi Coalfields to Develop 1,600 MW Thermal Power Project in Odisha
Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd. (MBPL) will be developing a Rs. 15,947 crore thermal power plant with two units of 800 MW capacity each near Basundhara Mines in Odisha. MBPL is a 100% subsidiary of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL), and thereby a step-down subsidiary of CIL.
MBPL will begin the work on this project by the middle of 2024 and expects it to start generation by 2028. The aforementioned PIB release from the Ministry of Coal stated, “As per the interest received from different States 4000 MW worth of PPAs are in pipeline”.
MCL had announced this thermal power project in January 2023
About Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Ltd. : Chennai-headquartered Neyveli Lignite Corporation was incorporated in 1956. It is engaged mainly in the mining of Lignite and Thermal Power Generation. It is a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India.
About Coal India Limited: Kolkata-headquartered Coal India Ltd. (CIL) is owned by Ministry of Coal, Government of India, and is the largest Coal producer in the world. CIL was incorporated in November 1975. The company reported revenue from operations of Rs. 1,38,251.91 crore during FY-23.