Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded Madhya Pradesh Government for completing Singaji thermal power project at less than average cost.
In his address, during inauguration of 1,200 MW first phase of the project and foundation-laying of 1,320 MW second phase at Khandwa on March 5, the Prime Minister made a special mention about this. He lauded the State for constructing the first phase of Singaji thermal power project at less than average cost. He hoped that the State Government will get an award when second phase of the project is also completed at less than average cost.
It is noteworthy that 2 units of the 1,200 MW first phase have been constructed at a cost of Rs 7,820 crore. This is a Green Field Project. A comparison of the project with other such projects in the country shows that per MW cost of first phase of Singaji thermal power project is Rs 6.25 crore against Rs 6.75 crore cost of NTPC’s Katwa project, Rs 6.96 crore of NTPC’s Khargone project, Rs 6.50 crore of Mahagenco Bhusawal, Rs 7.63 crore Tamil Nadu’s Mettur project, Rs 7.44 crore of Chhattisgarh’s Madwa project and Rs 7.44 crore cost of JP Nigari’s project.
Similarly, two units of 660 MW each will be constructed in the second phase of Singaji thermal power project. Cost of the units of total 1,320 MW is Rs 6500 crore, which is minimum compared to such power projects in other States. Project’s existing cost (EPC) is Rs 4 crore per MW whereas it is Rs 4.23 crore at Suratgarh, Rajasthan, Rs 4.31 crore at Chhabra, Rajasthan, Rs 4 crore NTPC’s North Karnapura and cost of project at Wankabori, Gujarat is Rs 4.44 crore per MW. Thus, if we take together cost of both phases it comes to Rs 14,320 crore or Rs 5.68 crore per MW, which is minimum among contemporary projects.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi had said that correct use of people’s money has been ensured through right decisions on right time, concrete monitoring and alert efforts. He hoped that cost of project’s second phase will also be less than other projects. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge) Piyush Goyal, State’s Energy Minister Rajendra Shukla and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.