THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 2,400-MW thermal power plant planned at Cheemeni in Kasargod will be a fully gas-based thermal power plant. The State Cabinet on Tuesday gave its approval for the project at a cost of Rs 12,000 crore.
Originally, the power plant was designed as an exclusively coal-based one. The idea was to source coal from the Talcher fields in Orissa. Later, the project was redesigned as 1,100 MW gas-based plus a 1,300-MW coal-based plant.
This was in view of two crucial aspects. One, it would be easier to get environmental clearance for the project and two, the GAIL pipeline from Kochi to Mangalore is passing through Kasargod. Besides, coal shortage has been gripping the country over the past few years.
When contacted, Power Minister A K Balan’s office confirmed that the project would be a fully gas-based one. The State Government is hoping to source LNG fuel from the GAIL project. According to the Minister’s office, the project would be taken up in two phases.
The first phase, targeting 1,200 MW, is to be completed by 2014-2015.
The 1,200 MW second phase, which will complete the project, will be commissioned by 2020.
The KSEB and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation will form a special purpose vehicle to implement the project. The mega power project, the first one of its size in the State, is expected to provide an answer to the power demands of the future.
Today, the State depends a lot on power imported from other states, especially costly thermal power.
The Cheemeni Power Plant is coming up on 2000 acres of land which belonged to the Kerala State Plantation Corporation.