Indian Power Sector

Ongoing cooperation between India and Bhutan in the hydropower sector is covered under the 2006 agreement on cooperation in Hydropower between the two countries and the Protocol to the 2006 agreement signed in March, 2009 thereof. Under the Protocol, Government of India has agreed to develop 10,000 MWs of hydropower in Bhutan for export of surplus power to India by 2020.

National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC) has signed an agreement for providing engineering and consultancy services for pre-construction activities for Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project (720 MW) in March, 2010. Further, agreements for preparation of DPRs of Chamkharchhu- 1(670MW) and Kuri Gongri (1800 MW) have also been signed between NHPC and Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB). These agreements between NHPC and Government of Bhutan are not likely to create any hurdle in the implementation of hydropower projects by NHPC in the country.

As informed by Government of Chhattisgarh, during the last three years, Government of Chhattisgarh has signed one MoU with Government of Karnataka and Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL), for setting up of a 2×800 MW coal based thermal power project in District Janjgir-Champa, Chhattisgarh. The estimated cost of the project is Rs.9723.43 crores as informed by KPCL.

KPCL is presently working on obtaining various clearances for the implementation of the aforesaid project which includes acquisition of land, water allocation, coal linkage for supply of coal, power evacuation, environmental clearance, etc

In respect of Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) at Cheyyur in Tamil Nadu, the site for power plant and captive port at Panaiyur has been finalized and approved by the State Government. Terms of References (TORs) for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for port site has been cleared by the Expert Committee of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on 21.12.2009. EIA report has been submitted by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the project to the State pollution control board for conducting public hearing.

The project is presently at pre-bid stage. The responsibility of achieving financial closure is that of the successful bidder, who will be expected to achieve financial closure within a time period of 12 months from the date of handing over the project to the selected developer or 14 months from the date of letter of intent whichever is later

Chandil Power Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Power
Address :
1509 Modi Tower, 98 Nehru Place, New Delhi
110019
Jharkhand
Project Location : Seraikela Kharswan
License issued on :4/26/2010

Dahej Energy Pvt Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Coal Based Thermal Power Plant
Address :
43, Community Centre, New Friends Colony, New
110025
Gujarat
Project Location : Bharuch
License issued on :4/26/2010

Mecwel Power Pvt Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Generation And Transmission Of Electrical Energy Produced In
Address :
Plot No.510, Service Road, Sreenivasa Nagar Bank
520008
Andhra Pradesh
Project Location : Nalgonda
License issued on :4/26/2010

Rashi Strips Pvt Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Generation, Transmission And Distribution Of Power
Address :
A-184, Ist Floor, Meera Bagh, New Delhi
110087
Chattisgarh
Project Location : Bilaspur
License issued on :4/26/2010

Facor Power Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Electric Power Generation & Transmission
Address :
Corporate One Suite, 401, Plot No.5, Jasola, New
110044
Orissa
Project Location : Jajpur
License issued on :4/27/2010

Shree Sidhbali Ispat Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Electric Power
Address :
C-268, 2nd Floor, Opp Vivekanand College, Vivek
110095
Maharashtra
Project Location : Chandrapur
License issued on :4/27/2010

First Carbon Technologies Pvt Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Generation And Transmission Of Electric Energy Produced In
Address :
A-1/2, Shradhdha Vishalnagar, Gujarat Gas Circle,
395009
Gujarat
Project Location : Bharuch
License issued on :4/28/2010

Rathi Steel And Power Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Generation & Transmission Of Electric Energy Produced In
Address :
Plot No.24/1, Block-A, Mohan Co-Operative Industrial
110044
Orissa
Project Location : Sambalpur
License issued on :4/28/2010

Sapnai Energy Pvt Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Generation & Distribution Of Power
Address :
Shop No.101, Chaitnaya Nagar, Gharghoda Road,
496001
Chattisgarh
Project Location : Raigarh
License issued on :4/28/2010

Visa Steel Ltd
Sector :Thermal, Captive
Project :Power Plant Captive
Address :
Hll Bldg. 2nd Floor, 9, Shakespear Sarani, Kolkata,
700071
Orissa
Project Location : Jajpur
License issued on :4/28/2010

Gei Industrial Systems Ltd
Sector :Thermal
Project :Manufacturing Of Heat Exchangers
Address :
Industrial Area, Govindpura, Bhopal, Huzur, Bhopal,
462023
Madhya Pradesh
Project Location : Bhopal
License issued on :4/29/2010

The following steps have been taken by the Govt. for promotion of supercritical technology to meet the demand of power in the country:-

i.Supercritical technology has been made mandatory for Ultra-mega Power Projects.

ii.In order to encourage domestic manufacturing of supercritical units, Government of India has approved a proposal to invite bids for boilers and turbine generators for five supercritical projects (comprising 11 units of 660 MW) of NTPC and DVC with the mandatory condition of setting up phased manufacturing facilities in the country and the bids for the same have already been invited.

As per coal linkage policy for 12th Plan, projects with supercritical technology are being given priority in coal allocation.

iv.Steps have been taken to enhance indigenous manufacturing capacity of supercritical units in the country. BHEL have taken up capacity augmentation programme and entered into collaboration with foreign manufacturers for supercritical technology. In addition, several Joint Ventures have been/are being set up by foreign manufacturers in association with Indian manufacturers to take up manufacture of boilers and turbine generators for supercritical thermal generating equipment in India.

v.

Details of existing gas based power projects in Southern States of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh totaling to 3486.7 MW are enclosed in the statement at Annex. There is no existing gas based project in Karnataka. However NTPC has one Naphtha based power project under commercial operation in Southern Region, i.e., Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project (Kayamkulam, Stage-I, 350 MW – net), at Allappuzha District in Kerala.

A number of proposals for setting up new gas based power projects in the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala have been received. However, at present due to non availability of domestic gas for new power projects it may not be possible to plan new power projects based on domestic gas in these states for 12th Plan and the same could be considered once the gas availability for new power projects is indicated by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. As regards new power projects in the state sector based on imported gas in the four southern states, the information is being obtained.

However, NTPC has a proposal to set up a 1050 MW combined cycle power project namely Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project (RGCCPP) stage-II based on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) at Kayamkulam in Kerala. Gas sale agreement has been signed by NTPC on 03.12.09 with M/s Petronet LNG`s off takers M/s GAIL/BPCL & IOCL for supply of around 1.2 MTPA of Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG). Investment approval has not been obtained so.

Ministry of Power had recommended Phase-II of the Programme for Renovation and Modernization of Coal Fired Stations in India consisting of 6 units of different State Thermal Power Stations to the Department of Economic Affairs [DEA] in June, 2009 for arranging World Bank financing. Subsequently, a proposal for arranging external assistance for R&M of units 6 (1×200 MW), 7 (1×210 MW) of Satpura TPS Power House-II and units 8, 9 (2×210 MW) of Satpura TPS Power House-III was received from the Government of Madhya Pradesh in July,2009.

As the proposal of Government of Madhya Pradesh was received in July 2009 after the Ministry of Power had recommended the short listed projects to the DEA, the same could not be included in the list of recommended projects.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) (Power Component) of the Indira Sagar Polavaram Multipurpose Project (12×80=960 MW) was submitted by Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGENCO) to Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for concurrence on 10th October, 2009. The Project envisages generation of power corresponding to water available now (i.e. Initial Stage), which is likely to get reduced gradually to ultimate stage consequential to upstream utilization of water. As such, benefits from the project would need to be assessed in different stages corresponding to upstream development.

In view of non-availability of duly vetted and approved hydrological data for various stages of development, the DPR of the project was returned to APGENCO on 16.03.2010 with the suggestion to resubmit the same after getting the hydrology vetted from Central Water Commission (CWC). The revised DPR has not been submitted by APGENCO.

The India based Neutrino Observatory (INO) is proposed to be set up through the Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Science & Technology. Presently a site in Bodi West Hills near T.Pudukottai village of Theni District, Tamilnadu has been identified as a suitable location.

The project includes construction of a world class underground laboratory under a rock cover of at least 1200 m from all directions. This underground laboratory will be accessed by 75 meter wide tunnel of approximately 2 km in length. The primary goal of INO is to study neutrino properties. Determination of neutrino properties is one of the most significant open problems in Physics today. Such studies will help us in understanding the interactions among subatomic particles at a very small scale. In this underground laboratory a massive 50 kton particle detector will be installed to study the cosmic ray produced neutrinos. The project will put India back on the world-map of underground science, a position that was held by India during the 2nd half of the 20th century.

There is no radiation involved in this experiment. Neutrinos have been around us from the beginning of the universe. In fact the experiment is required to be carried out underground only to avoid the cosmic ray particles. This is a very passive detector where the neutrinos already existing in nature will be detected. Scientists involved in this project are clarifying this to the local population by organizing interaction meetings with the local people as well as through public outreach programmes. A meeting was also organized by the District Collector of Theni District, Tamilnadu in his office on 25th January 2010, where the INO scientists explained the salient features of this project to the local MLA, Panchayat Presidents, representatives of farmers etc.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs.91S crore. The project is currently awaiting the forest clearance from tne State Government of Tamilnsdu. After receiving $ii the clearances, cabinet approval will be obtained to start the construction work

Consequent to the in principle approval of sites in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu and West Bengal in October 2009. Governments of Rajasthan, Karnataka and Bihar have reiterated their requests for setting up new nuclear power plants in future. The sites under consideration are Mahi-Banswara (Rajasthan), Kaiga & Mannur (Karnataka) and Rajauli (Bihar).

The evaluation of sites by the Standing Site Selection Committee (SSSC) of the Government is an on going activity. The “in principle” approval of the sites by the Government is the first step in the process of setting up nuclear power plants. The details of the projects are finalized subsequently.