NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station has decided in-principle to sign a memorandum of understanding with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation for using it flue gas-based desalination plant at Deepanjalinagar township near here for producing Rail Neer.
Now talks are at advance stage and the agreement is expected to be signed soon. “IRCTC wants to sell bottled water by taking the potable water from our desalination plant commissioned about six months ago,” NTPC Simhadri Group General Manager N.K. Sinha told The Hindu on Wednesday.
IRCTC at present has bottling plants in Chennai, Delhi and Dinapur (Bihar). It produces about 6.14 lakh bottles of one litre, which are high in demand. While its rivals sell a litre of water at ₹20 to ₹25, Rail Neer is available at ₹15. The quality of water made by IRCTC, subsidiary of Ministry of Railways, is better than others.
NTPC Simhadri had set up the desalination plant on its premises near Parawada with an investment of ₹8.5 crore as part of its decision to diversify. The plant can produce 120 tonnes of de-mineralised water per hour.
“Waste gas from the existing flue gas is used in a fossil-fired power plant for desalination using sea water instead of steam or electricity unlike conventional desalination plants,” Mr. Sinha said.
Solar power
The coal-fired NTPC Simhadri, which has total production capacity of 2000 MW, is also making preparations for taking up work on a 20 megawatt solar power plant.
In tune with the Union government’s thrust on clean energy, NTPC had taken the initiative in producing solar power at various stations. It has so far able to produce 850 MW of solar power, Mr. Sinha said.
Drastic reduction in solar power cost and emphasis on green power has led the maharatna company to foray into wind and solar power generation. NTPC Simhadri, once the decision is finalised, wants to set up solar panels on its vacant site in the vicinity of the power plant.
