New Delhi, Nov 12: Centre on Monday reviewed the controversial Dabhol Power project aimed at restarting generation from Phase-I, which has been lying idle since last year. At a review meeting attended by promoters, financial institutions, Central Electricity Authority and National Thermal Power Corporation, it was decided that a technical team would assess the conditions of the plant in terms of machinery and availability of spares.

When contacted R V Shahi, Union Power Secretary said "this was just a pre-review meeting and there may be another meeting tomorrow under the chairmanship of Minister Anant Geete in which a concrete decision may be taken."

The meeting assumes significance since the Maharashtra government has decided to purchase power from the idle Dabhol Power Company's (DPC) 658 mw phase one for Rs 2.80 per unit.
According to recommendations of the expert committee on energy set up under the chairmanship of chief secretary Ajit Nimbalkar, the state electricity board (MSEB) will buy DPC power at 83 per cent plant load factor with a "pass through component" on the naphtha prices. Bureau Report