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NTPC’s grandiose plans for the south

T. Sankaralingam, CMD, NTPC

The NTPC (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation), a 32-year-old power utility, is focusing all its attention in realising its goal of having 50,000 megawatt (MW) by 2012.

“As on date, the installed capacity of NTPC is 27,904 MW. Capacity aggregating 13,360 MW is under construction at 11 different locations. For another 8,000 MW plus capacity, we intend to finalise the orders within this year. With this action pla n in hand, we are well on course to achieve our target,” T. Sankaralingam, Chairman and Managing Director of the company, says in an e-mail interview.

Apart from thermal power projects, the utility is implementing three hydro power projects.

During this financial year, the company’s target is to add a capacity of 2,500 MW, of which 500 MW has already been added at Sipat in Chhattisgarh. It has proposed to add 1,000 MW through the Kahalgaon Stage-II project in Bihar and another 500 MW in Sipat. In Bhilai (Chattisgarh), one 500 MW unit has been proposed as part of the expansion of a joint venture plant.

On the organisation’s plans for the southern region, the utility has accorded investment proposal for two more projects in the southern region — 1,000 MW expansion at Simhadri, Andhra Prdesh and another 1,000 MW at Ennore, Tamil Nadu. While the NTPC is implementing the Simhadri expansion project, it is executing the Ennore project through a special purpose vehicle floated by the NTPC and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. In addition, there are plans to expand the Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power plant at Kayamkulam in Kerala by 1950 MW, as soon as the NTPC is able to tie up gas supplies. At present, the NTPC is running three stations at Ramagundam, Simhadri and Kayamkulam with a total capacity of 3,950 MW in the southern region. Besides, a 1,800 MW plant at Talcher-II (Orissa) in the eastern region is exclusively dedicated to the southern states. Further, 155 MW has been allocated to the region from the unallocated portion of eastern region stations.

The company has planned to meet nearly one-fourth of its coal requirement from its own production (around 50 million tonnes) in 10 years. It has been allocated seven mining blocks including two blocks to be developed in joint venture with Coal India. As regards the first mining block, Pakri Barwadih, allocated to the NTPC, it has completed all the preparatory works. It is awaiting the environment clearance from the Union Environment and Forests Ministry and approval for land acquisition under Coal Bearing Areas (CBA) Act from the Coal Ministry. “Once we receive these clearances, we shall be able to start acquiring land and commence production of coal within six months,” the CMD says.

Under an MOU signed with the Nigerian Government in May 2007, Nigeria is to supply at least three million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per annum, on a long term basis for a period of 25 years, to be used by the company in its power stations in India and, in return, NTPC has agreed to set up a 700 MW gas-based power station and a 500 MW coal-fired power station in Nigeria.

T. RAMAKRISHNAN

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