National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC) said it will invest Rs 15,166 crore over the next five years to set up a 2,400 MW super critical thermal power plant at Kudgi, Karnataka.
The Ministry of Environment & Forests has given environmental clearance for the Kudgi project. The project will feature super critical boilers known for superior output.
Kudgi was among the nine mega power projects taken up by NTPC, which were to be completed by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan. According to the company, the first stage involving three 800 MW units are expected to be completed during by the end of the 12th Plan and the second stage comprising two 800 MW units may spillover to the next plan.
“Work on the Kudgi plant is progressing well. We have applied for a coal mining license near the plant in Bijapur so that there wont be shortage of coal supply. If there’s a delay in new allotments, we can source coal from our own coal mine at Pakhri Barwadi, Jharkhand,” said R Venkateswaran Regional ED (South), NTPC.
He added that nearly 50 per cent of the power produced at the Kudgi plant will be for local consumption in Karnataka. Power will also be supplied to neighbouring states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
According to NTPC, on completion of the two phases of the thermal power plant, it will be the biggest in the country producing 4,000 MW at one location. This is also the company’s first super critical project to be set up at a cost of over Rs 15,000 crore and is being targeted for completion by 2015-16.
Within south, NTPC currently operates stations with an installed capacity of 4,950 MW, including Ramagundam, Simhadri and Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project (CCPP). Some of the upcoming projects include Kudgi STPP stage two, Rajiv Gandhi CCPP stage II, Pudimadaka STPP, AP and Ramagundam stage IV with a combined capacity of 5970 MW.