Of the many power projects inching closer to completion in the State, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is now paying greater attention to three new projects, which will generate 3,300 megawatt (MW).
The new projects, all coal-fired, will have five units, each with capacity of 660 megawatt (MW). Their cost will be Rs. 20,000 crore.
While the Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) expansion project will have one unit of 660 MW, the Ennore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) thermal power project and the Udangudi thermal power project will have two units each of similar capacity.
All the projects will employ the super critical technology, associated with better heat rate, less coal firing, less CO2 emission and more environment friendly functions when compared to conventional plants using sub-critical technology.
On Friday, the Corporation opened technical bids received for the ETPS expansion project. A couple of leading players in the field of integrated power plant equipment manufacturing have submitted their proposals. On scrutiny of the technical bids, the Tangedco will examine, in a few months, price bids given by the players.
In respect of the other two projects, the Tangedco is planning to invite tenders shortly.
As regards the ETPS expansion project, all approvals have been secured including environmental clearance of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board’s consent for establishing the project, officials of the Tangedco say.
The nod of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry has been obtained for Udangudi, which was originally proposed to be taken up as a joint venture project involving the erstwhile Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) and the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). Even after the EAC’s nod, the Union Ministry took the stand that unless coal linkage was firmed up, it could not grant environmental clearance.
When the project remained in limbo, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in February 2012, announced her government’s decision to implement it as a State sector project, ensuring the availability of the entire power generated to the State. It was decided to implement the project with imported coal.
As for the Ennore SEZ Thermal Power Project, the Committee agreed to recommend it for environmental clearance subject to the receipt of a study on the presence of heavy metal in coal. The Tangedco has commissioned the study to Anna University, which is likely to submit its report soon.
As imported coal is going to be used for all these projects and the Corporation has tied up with MMTC on a long term basis for supply of 10 million tonnes of coal, the Tangedco officials are hopeful that environmental clearance will be secured sooner or later.
Land
While the ETPS expansion project will be implemented within the premises of the existing station, the Ennore SEZ Thermal Power Project will be taken up on a portion of land, originally meant for ash dyke of the North Chennai Thermal Power Station. The authorities have reclaimed 500 acres of land where the second project is going to be executed. In respect of Udangudi, which is in Tuticorin district, the proposed plant will come up on poromboke land.
