NTPC Korba Station will soon get a study done for exploring the suitability of using abandoned mines of Banki fields in the district, to fill up with fly ash.
The studies would be conducted for Banki mine nos- 5 and 6 as well as Banki mine nos 7 and 8, officials stated.
The power utility would soon go for a Consultancy contract to get the study done for the exercise.
Fly ash is a by-product of power generation with coal. Sustainable ash utilisation is also one of the key concerns at NTPC, officials stated.
NTPC’s Ash Utilisation Division (AUD), set up in 1991, is striving to derive maximum usage from the vast quantities of ash produced at its various power stations.
The ash is now also being looked at as a commodity that could generate wealth for the company in the long run, officials stated.
The AUD proactively formulates policies, plans and programmes for ash utilisation. It further monitors the progress in these activities and works for developing new segments of ash usage. Ash Utilisation Cell at each station handles ash utilisation activities, they stated.
The fly ash generated at NTPC stations is ideal for use in the manufacture of cement, concrete, concrete products, cellular concrete products, bricks/blocks/ tiles etc, officials stated.
It may be recalled that both NTPC, Sipat and Korba stations in Chhattisgarh have informed the South Eastern Coalfields ltd (SECl) that they have stopped taking imported coal with the use of higher grade coal sourced from SECl's Koriya-Rewa mining belt, officials stated.
The specific consumption of coal by the two thermal power stations has been reduced by 2% to 3% by substituting imported coal with Koriya-Rewa coal, they stated.
The information was provided in an interactive session held by SECl at its headquarters here with the power utilities and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) early this month, officials stated.
SECl officials in the meeting had further informed the power utilities regarding installation of Coal Washeries at Kusmunda (20 million tonnes capacity) and Baroud (5 million tonnes capacity ) which are likely to be commissioned by October 1, 2016.
Notably, the Central Government has also decided to transport coal above G10 level only after being washed from October 1, 2017. The decision is taken to tackle the quality issue of the coal produced.
In order to meet the rising demand, Coal India ltd (CIl) has been setting up 15 new washeries with a total capacity of 112.6 million tonnes per annum. Out of these washeries, six are coking coal washeries with total capacity of 18.6 million tonnes per annum and nine non-coking washeries of 94.0 million tonnes per annum. Apart from these, 3 washeries of 11.6 million tonnes per annum are under construction, officials stated.
Notably, CIl has decided to set up washeries in its various subsidiaries to reduce the quantity of ash and other non useful component from coal so as to make it competitive in comparison to imported coal across the country.
The Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI)-- a mini Navratna is also in the process of setting up an Environment laboratory at Kusmunda mines in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh.
The most important environment related activities being carried out by CMPDI is the Environment Impact Assessment and Environment Management Plan among other key tasks for the mines of Coal India limited, officials stated.
It also undertakes environmental auditing works of different coal mining projects of Coal India limited as and when required.
Significantly, NTPC the largest power utility of the country recorded highest single day generation of 733.12 MUs, the highest so far in this Financial Year from its 18 coal based, 7 gas based, 8 solar and Hydro power stations on August 27, 2015. The Declared Cumulative Capability of the stations was 91.10 per cent and Plant load factor ( PlF) of 86.34 per cent on the day.
During financial year 2014-15, NTPC Group contributed 25 per cent of total electricity generated in India with 16 per cent share of Country’s total installed capacity as on 31.03.2015.
NTPC recorded Gross generation of 241.261 BUs (stand-alone) in FY 2014-15 registering a growth of 3.42 per cent. Plant load Factor (PlF) of NTPC’s coal stations was 80.23 per cent against national average of 64.46 per cent. Two stations recorded more than 90 per cent PlF.
All NTPC stations achieved Plant Availability of or above 83 per cent. Four coal stations of NTPC featured among the top 10 stations of the Country in terms of PlF in FY 2014-15.
Notably, the Centre has signed a Memorandum of Understanding each with the states of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh for critical coal connectivity projects to improve transportation of coal, officials informed.