Vadodara: The National Thermal Power
Corporation Limited (NTPC), a Government of India undertaking,
will invest more than Rs 9,000 crore in its two new expansion
projects located at Jhanor and Kawas in Gujarat, Union
Minister of State for Power Bharat Solanki said.
Talking after his visit to NTPC's plant at Jhanor
in neighbouring Bharuch district, about 100 kms from Vadodara
on Saturday, Solanki said, "NTPC has planned the expansion of
its power stations at Kawas and Jhanor by adding 1,300 mw of
capacity (nominal) at each location in Stage II expansion of
these projects.”
Key clearance for the projects have been obtained. The
estimated cost of Kawas II and Jhanor II are Rs 4,635.89 crore
and Rs 4,371 crore respectively as per 2004 cost estimation.
The projects have been held up for want of fuel (gas).
NTPC had awarded a contract to Reliance Industries Limited
(RIL) for supply of gas. However, RIL has not signed the
contract and the matter is pending in Bombay High Court for
resolution, Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC RS Sharma said.
Sharma had accompanied Solanki during his visit to the
Jhanor plant today
At present, 648 mw gas-based power station at Jhanor has
achieved 86 percent plant load factor and the power generated
by it is allocated to the states of western region including
Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and union
territory of Diu, Daman and Dadra Nagar Haveli since 1995.
It was commissioned from March 94 to March 95 at a total
cost of Rs 2,425.05 crore.
While 645 mw gas-based power station set up at Kawas at a
total cost of Rs 1,599.57 crore, was commissioned from March
1992 to 1993 and the power generated by it is allocated to the
states of western region.
Talking about the development of wind and solar energy
projects in Gujarat, Solanki said NTPC has agreed in principle
to set up 500 mw wind energy projects and 50 mw solar-based
projects in the state.
MOU with Gujarat Power Company Ltd (GPCL) will be
finalised after identification of potential sites/land by GPCL
for 500 mw wind-based and 50 mw solar-based projects in
Gujarat. GPCL has agreed to identify the potential sites for
wind and solar energy-based projects latest by October 15,
2009, Solanki said.
In the meantime, approval for setting up of 50 mw solar
energy-based plant has been received from the Principal
Secretary (Energy) Government of Gujarat, Solanki said.
Solanki announced the NTPC's plans to raise it its
installed capacity to 50,000 mw of power from 30,644 mw during
the 11th five year plan for which it will make investment of
more than Rs 1,06,700 crores.
Solanki said, "It is the policy of the Centre to allocate
unallocated share of power from the Centre-owned power
projects to the state which are in badly need of it."
He said his ministry has written to the Coal Ministry
for allocation of more coals to the NTPC-owned coal-based
thermal stations located across the country.
Solanki also announced that villages located within
five kms radius of the power plants set up there, will get
power from these power plants.
General Manager of NTPC at Jhanor R Ramesh said that
they have been maintaining the high standard of operational
efficiency.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, August 08, 2009, 20:15