The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited Ramagundam, which is known as the ‘beacon lamp of South India’, completed 35 years on Friday and is likely to turn into a power hub of the newly-formed Telangana State.
The foundation stone for the project was laid by the then Prime Minister, Morarji Desai, on November 14, 1978. The Ramagundam region was chosen for its ample coal and water resources. The first unit of 200 MW was commissioned on October 27, 1983, and since then, the project has made great strides. It is now generating 2,610 MW with seven units, including 10 MW of solar power, which was commissioned in January this year.
This is the largest power station in the entire south India and the first thermal power station to bag the ISO 14001 certification. The NTPC Ltd Ramagundam is poised to emerge as the power hub of Telangana with the Union Government deciding to generate additional 4,000 MW from this station as promised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill.
Accordingly, the NTPC Ltd and district authorities have identified suitable sites for setting up of two units with a capacity of 800 MW each in the vicinity under the ‘Super Critical’ project scheme. The authorities are working overtime to ensure that Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for the eighth and ninth units in December. The NTPC officials are holding parleys with the Coal India Limited (CIL) for coal linkage with the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). At present, the SCCL is supplying 32,000 tonnes of coal a day to the Ramagundam plant. On an average, the SCCL supplies 133 lakh tonnes per annum to NTPC Ltd. The remaining coal is secured from the South Eastern Coalfields Limited, Mahanadi Coal Fields and at times, imported from foreign countries.
During the first six months of this financial year, the plant surpassed its target generating 9,631.43 million units against the target of 9,576 MU.
