NTPC to establish new plant

Karimnagar: The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Ramagundam, will have another feather in its cap, once a new plant consisting of two units with a capacity of 800 MW each is commissioned.

With addition of two more units, the NTPC unit will be able to generate 4,200 MW of electricity and will become the third largest power producer in the country after the Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Project (VSTPP) promoted by the NTPC and Mundra Thermal Power Project (MTPP) of Adani Group.

Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi will formally lay foundation to the two units of the plant, to be set up under Telangana Super Thermal Power Project (TSTPP) phase-I in the town on August 7. This project has been taken up to overcome power crisis in the newly-formed Telangana state, as mentioned in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act-2014. The project is estimated to cost Rs 9,954.20 crore.

The power major would exclusively allocate 85 per cent of power to Telangana, once the new plant is commissioned. The authorities say that the new units would be completed in three years from zero date, January 29 last.

Linkage of coal from Mahanandi coal fields of Odisha has been finalised for the project. The state government already earmarked 7 tmcft of water from Sripada Sagar at Yellampalli in Ramagundam.

Already, the corporation, which is the country’s largest energy conglomerate, had established seven units of varied capacities in a phased manner in the town, generating 2,600 MW power per hour and 20,000 million units every year. This super power station is the biggest thermal plant of south India.

Incidentally, it is celebrating its 38th anniversary this year. The then Prime Minister Morarji Desai laid foundation stone for the power station on November 14, 1978.

At present, power produced from this station is supplied to six states and a union territory: Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Puducherry.

Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are provided with 29 % power each. Tamil Nadu gets 22 % of electricity, while 16% and 12% of energy is earmarked for Karnataka and Kerala. Goa is supplied with 5 pc and 2 per cent of power is given to Puducherry.