The State Government is all set to get around 3,100 MW additional power by 2018 as its share from the four public sector thermal power projects now under fast-track in the districts of Jharsuguda, Sambalpur and Dhenkanal.

This would enable the State to be self-sufficient in power, said Energy Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena.

According to Jena, State PSU Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) is presently pursuing a capacity addition plan of  2 X 660 MW Super Critical units- 3 and 4  at its existing  2 X210 MW power plant locations at Jharsuguda.

The project entails development and operation of captive coal blocks located in Sundergarh district with estimated reserves of 530 MMT. In addition, a dedicated 47 km Merry Go Round (MGR) railway line is also under development for transportation of coal, he said.

Jena said that 50 per cent of power to be generated will be supplied to GRIDCO at regulated tariffs and the balance 50 per cent may be sold out the State.

He said that the commissioning of the expansion project with an estimated investment of Rs11,500 crore is in progress and is targeted to be completed by June, 2017.

In order to make the State self-sufficient in power generation, Jena said that State Government had signed 29 MoUs with Independent Power Producers (IIPs) to set up power plants with a total generation capacity of 40,620 MW of which the State share is expected to be 7,259 MW. Out of these, he said two IPPs have already started generation of 2,450 MW of power.

In addition, there is expected to be a share of additional 4,800 MW from the National Thermal Power Corporation limited (NTPC) at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district, NTPC Darlipali in Sundergarah , NTPC-Talcher Thermal Power Station  expansion and Odisha UMPP projects.

He said that the Rs12,000 crore Ultra Super Crtical Thermal Power project of NTPC is targeted to be commissioned by 2018 . The ground work for the 2 X 800 MW project is in progress with the State Government providing 90 per cent of the required 2,000 acres of land.

Similarly, the 800 MW Gajamara power project is scheduled to be commissioned by 2018 for which administrative approval has already been accorded. The land acquisition is in progress, he said.

Jena said that the 5 X 800 UMPP at Beda Bahal is also slated to be commissioned by 2018 with an investment of Rs27,000 crore. NTPC hasalready deposited Rs1, 800 crore with the IDCO towards the land cost.

The State Government had already acquired the required 2,700 acres land for the project. So far, Rs736 crore has already been disbursed to the land owners, he said.

The Energy Secretary said that the bidding process for the project is being taken up by Power Finance Corporation   and the State Government had already allocated coal mines in favour of the company. But the NTPC would give a formal application for in-principle allocation of the mines, he said.

On completion of the four projects, the State Government would get 3,100 MW free power as its share, he added.