20 power producers yet to begin work on Odisha projects

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Aug 19:

Out of the 30 MoUs signed by Odisha Government with Independent Power producers (IPP)s between 2000 and 2014, as many as 20 companies are yet to begin work on their projects,  said Energy Minister Pranab Prakash Das while replying to a written question in the assembly yesterday.

As per information provided by the minister, the state government had signed these MOUs targeting a total thermal power production of about 37,000 MW and drawing investment of over Rs 1 lakh crore to the state.

Of the 30 IPPs, the state has scrapped the MoUs of Essar Power, Vijay Ferro & Power Private Limited.

Apart from the above three companies, a large number of other major power producers such as Tata Power, Visa Power, Sahara India Power Corporation Limited, Visaka Thermal Power Limited, NSL Nagapatanam Power & Infratech Pvt Limited, CESC Limited and SPI Ports are yet to start construction on their projects even though the MoUs with these companies remain valid.

The construction work, however, is in progress for coal-fired power plants proposed by Monnet Power Company, Lanco Babandh Power and KVK Nilachal Power Limited.

Among the companies that have started work or are already operational, GMR Kamalanga has commissioned three units (3×350) of its 1400 MW power plant at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district while its fourth unit of 350 MW capacity plant is under construction.

Sterlite Energy has commissioned its 2400 MW coal fired power plant at Bhurkamunda near Jharsuguda and Jindal India Thermal Power Limited (JITPL) has put on stream the first 600 MW unit of its proposed 1800 MW plant at Derang near Angul. Besides, JITPL is slated to commission its second unit, also of 600 MW capacity, by the end of this fiscal.

Recently, Ind Barath Energy (Utkal) Limited synchronised the first 350 MW unit of its proposed 700 MW coal-fired thermal power plant at Sahajbahal near Jharsuguda. The second unit (350 MW) is expected to be commissioned within four months. Out of the total capacity of 700 MW from the two units, Tamil Nadu will receive 500 MW of power.

It may be noted that presently the IPPs and captive generating plants are supplying 889 MW to the state grid during peak hours. Peak power demand stands at 4111 MW while average power demand hangs around 3500 MW.