The Union Ministry of Coal has recommended Batati Kolga coal blocks for the proposed Chhattisgarh Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) to the Ministry of Power for examining the suitability of the recommended coal blocks for the UMPP.
Notably, Chhattisgarh has planned to achieve installed power generation capacity of 30,000 MW by 2017-18.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on March 31 this year had informed in the State Assembly that the power generation from one unit of 1000 MW under construction Madwa Thermal Power plant commenced commercial production on March 31, 2016 in Janjgir-Champa district after necessary technical checks.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company ltd (CSPGCl) is setting up the 2x500 MW Madwa Power Plant in Janjgir-Champa district.
The Chhattisgarh Government announced recently that for development of power sector and strengthen infrastructure related to it, a five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) has been chalked out.
Under this plan, funds to tune of around Rs 7466 crore have been included and time duration for the visionary scheme has been fixed from 2016-17 to 2020-21.
The works for various schemes including general schemes such as Chief Minister Urban Electrification Scheme, Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana, Mukhyamantri Manjra Tola Vidhyutikaran Yojana, EITC, IT projects, civil works and others will be carried out.
Along with extension of 4500 km-long 33 kv line, as many as 290 substations of 33/11 kv will be developed in the State. The State has recorded significant rise in number of power connection holders. During the time of Chhattisgarh’s formation, the State had around 18 lakh power connection holders which is now around 42 lakh.
Meanwhile, NTPC ltd, India's largest power utility has recorded highest ever overall Annual Power Generation of 241.98 BUs ( excluding JVs ) in the financial year 2015-16.
The company exceeded its capacity addition target by adding 2255 MW taking NTPC Group's total installed capacity to 46653 MW as on March 31, 2016 , a NTPC press release informed. NTPC's solar stations achieved highest ever generation of 160.8 MUs at a CUF of 16.64 %. Four coal power stations of the company were amongst the top 5 in the country in terms of PlF during the period.
The company met its CapEx (Capital Expenditure) target of Rs 25000 crore during the year and also achieved 100 % realization of the dues. Coal Mining activities shall also commence at its Pakri Barwadih Mine soon. Company reduced its imported coal consumption by 42.19% during the year to 9.47MMT from 16.38% during last year.
NTPC's efforts during second half of FY 16, as a result of rationalization of coal linkages, reduction in imported coal consumption, enforcement of third party sampling of coal and other measures led to reduction in energy charges of coal stations by nearly 20%.
NTPC shall endeavour to bring down the energy charges further to help the Discoms, it stated. With capacity addition of 9550 MW during the current plan, NTPC is all geared up to achieve the target of 11920 MW for the 12th five year plan ending 2016-17.
NTPC presently has 18 coal based, 7 gas based, 8 solar PV, one Hydro and 8 Subsidiaries / Joint Venture power stations. Company has a capacity of over 24,000 MW under different phases of completion.
It may be recalled that NTPC’s upcoming 1600 MW lara Super Thermal Power Project in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh has acquired all necessary clearances from the Union Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change for the project, officials stated. The lara plant of NTPC would be utilising super critical technology for power generation.
The power to be generated by upcoming project will be supplied to Chhattisgarh , Goa and Maharashtra states, officials stated.
The project is most likely to go on stream by March 2017 .
The coal requirement for the proposed plant would be met from Talaipalli Coal Block of Mand in Raigarh Coalfields, officials stated.