ANGUL: The much-awaited expansion of 3010 mw National Thermal Power Corportaion at Kaniha is very much on the cards and will take place at the appropriate time, said Executive Director, NTPC-Kaniha, NK Kothari.
Interacting with mediapersons at Kaniha plant on Wednesday, Kothari denied any delay in initiation of the expansion project. Two more units of 800 mw each will be added to the existing 3010 mw plant, he said. Besides 3000 mw thermal power capacity there is also a 10 mw solar power plant here, he added.
“Several measures are required to be taken before an expansion of a project is initiated. So far, survey works and technical study have been completed and reports have been sent to corporate office for further action. There will be feasibility study after which budget will be allocated by the corporate office to initiate construction works. The construction may take 38 to 42 months to complete,” Kothari said.
On completion of the expansion project, Kaniha plant will be the second largest in the country having a total installed capacity of 4610 mw.
Kothari said, “The cumulative power generation of NTPC as a whole in 2016-17 financial year is 1,22,509 million units and cumulative plant load factor of coal based stations till September 26, 2016 is 78.04 per cent.”
The installed capacity of NTPC stands at 47,228 mw, which includes 800 mw of hydro and 360 mw of solar generation capacity. Plans have been sketched to generate solar power of 10,000 mw by 2022 and wind energy of 1,000 mw with focus to reduce carbon emission, the Executive Director added.
NTPC plans for a total capacity addition of 24,000 mw with an investment of `1.6 lakh crore in near future. In FY-2016, our total cost of power generation was down to `2.92 a unit against `3.06 the previous year, due to reduction in both energy and capacity charges. Under afforestation drive, NTPC intends to plant 10 million trees during 2016-17, he added.
India’s largest generating company has clocked 10 per cent increase in power generation in the first quarter of FY-17 in comparison to the corresponding period last year with an increase in generation from 58.70 billion units to 64.6 BUs.
About NTPC-Kaniha, Kothari said “during 2016-17 fiscal it has generated 11,381 million units compared to 11,384 million units last year with current plant load factor of 87.81 per cent as compared to last year’s PLF of 87.83 per cent.
The station ranks fourth best power station in the country in terms of PLF. The plant provides power, one of the cheapest, to eight states. Senior officials of NTPC plant were present on the occasion.