NLCIL to set up two thermal plants in Ghatampur, Talabira; CIL planning two plants in Odisha, MP

The Ministry of Coal had advised coal subsidiaries to take up large scale diversification, and as a result, several thermal power projects are in advanced stages of planning and execution. In the pipeline are two power projects by Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLCIL), and two by Coal India Limited (CIL) and its subsidiaries.

NLCIL,  a central public sector undertaking under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal, has planned to set up two thermal power plants — one at Ghatampur, near Kanpur (U.P.), and the other at Talabira in Odisha.
 

Ghatampur Thermal Power Plant

The thermal power plant being set up in Ghatampur near Kanpur, will generate 1980 MW (3 X 660 MW) of powers. The power plant — being set up as a joint venture between NLCIL and the Government of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) — will supply 1478.28 MW to the state of UP and 492.72 MW to Assam.  

The cost of the Ghatampur Thermal Power Plant is estimated at Rs 19,406 crore and the project is in implementation phase — with likelihood of the first phase generating power by the end of this year. 

Talabira thermal power plant 

The NLCIL also has plans to set up a 2400 MW (3 X 800 MW) thermal power plant at Talabira in Odisha. This plant, a pithead thermal power plant that is located near NLCIL's Talabira coal mines, will be set up with a project cost of Rs 19,422 crore. 

Regarding the state of progress, the official release informs that land acquisition and clearances are in advanced stage for the Talabira thermal power plant and tendering for the project is at the final stage. It is expected that the work on the project will commence by the end of 2023, with completion likely by 2028-29. 

The Talabira thermal power plant will supply 1450 MW to the state of Tamil Nadu, 100 MW to Pondicherry and 400 MW to Kerala. 

Two more thermal power plants planned at Amarkantak and Basundhara Mines

As per the official release, Coal India Limited (CIL) also has plans to set up two thermal power plants at Amarkantak and Basundhara Mines.

Amarkantak: The power plant is being set up as a joint venture with the Government of Madhya Pradesh near Amarkantak and will generate 660 MW. The project is in advance stage of approval as the required land for the project has been arranged and the plant will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 5,600 crore.

SECL, a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, will invest Rs 857 crore as equity. And it will be implemented by a joint venture between SECL and Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Ltd. The work on this project is likely to start by the end of this financial year and will be completed by 2028.  

Basundhara Mines: Another CIL-subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has set up Mahanadi Basin Power Limited, which is planning to set up 2x800 MW thermal power plant near its Basundhara Mines pithead plant. As per the interest received from different states 4000 MW worth of PPAs are in the pipeline, the release said. The estimated project cost is Rs 15,947 crore and work on this project is likely to start by the middle of the next year and likely to be completed by 2028.