The mega power project proposed by NTPC in Andhra Pradesh is likely to be located either at Atchutapuram or at Nakkapalli, about 50 to 100 km from Visakhapatnam.
The project, which hit a roadblock ever since a draft power purchase agreement was signed in 2011 with the then Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, is being revived for a fast-track clearance, after a high-level meeting in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu after meeting NTPC Chairman-cum-Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury directed the district officials to identify the land within two weeks. The original project cost was estimated at Rs.24,000 crore.
Reliable sources told The Hindu that AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation is likely to offer 1,500 acres close to Atchutapuram or part of 4,000 acres under acquisition by them at Nakkapalli. Both sites have been offered to HPCL for setting up a 15-million tonne Greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex at a cost of Rs.45,000 crore.
The first one after allotment to HPCL was cancelled two years ago for failure to resume work within the period stipulated. HPCL has also been offered land near Kakinada.
An NTPC official has said the power plant planned with five units of 800 MW with super critical turbines will be an ultra-modern power project. It is likely to be fuelled with imported coal due to problems with regard to availability of coal from Odisha and other coalfields.
Of 2,000 MW generated at Simhadri Super Thermal Power Project, NTPC is supplying entire 1,000 MW from stage-I and 300 MW from stage-II to AP as part of an arrangement. Andhra Pradesh is expected to get at least 50 per cent of power generated from the new project.
