The second unit of the coal-fired Hinduja National Power Corporation Limited (HNPCL) is getting ready to go on stream shortly.
“The unit is under synchronisation after the first unit was commissioned in January. Once synchronisation is stabilised, it will start commercial operations,” a senior official told The Hindu .
Both the units, each with a capacity of 520 MW, will be fully operational within a few months. The project is located at Palavalasa near Parawada. The HNPCL entrusted the job of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL). Hudhud Cyclone, which wrought havoc in Visakhapatnam in October 2014, dealt a heavy blow to the HNPCL power plant construction work delaying inordinately commissioning of both the units.
As per the original schedule, the first unit should have been commissioned by December 2014 and the second unit by January-February 2015.
Power produced from the first unit is going to Andhra Pradesh. As per indications, sources said, power from the second unit will also go to AP. Telangana State earlier claimed its share quoting the 10{+t}{+h}schedule of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. It contends that as per the Act, power should be shared by them from existing and under construction projects.
The Hinduja Group, as per its website, has adopted the vision to generate 10,000 MW in 10 years with an investment of $10 billion through thermal, hydro, renewable and nuclear power generation.
NTPC Simhadri
Visakhapatnam has another 2,000 MW power plant by NTPC Simhadri at Parawada. NTPC Simhadri has also sought land for its expansion in the nearby areas. The NTPC and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited also have plans to set up a Greenfield power plant.
