NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Station is planning expansion of its 2,000 MW coal-fired power plant at Parawada near here. “We are exploring various options to acquire 400 acres so as to take up construction of a super critical power plant adjoining our existing power plant,” NTPC Simhadri Group General Manager A.K. Samanta told reporters here on Monday.
He said that they were conducting internal assessment on viability of a super critical unit to generate below 1,000 MW so as to make it a cost-effective green power project. A Brownfield project will have a production cost of less than Rs.5 crore per megawatt whereas for a Greenfield unit it will be more than Rs.5 crore per megawatt.
Stating that 4,000 MW ultra mega power plant at Pudimadaka contemplated by NTPC was a Greenfield project for which clearances were being obtained, he said if there was a possibility, they wanted to expand the capacity of NTPC Simhadri. Both Parawada and Pudimadaka projects of NTPC were located at a distance of 50 km.
The terms of reference and revised layout plan for Pudimadaka project proposed with an investment of Rs.20,000 crore is awaiting clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forests.
Stating that there was a significant improvement in raw material security with supply of coal from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd of Odisha, he said that they were meeting the shortfall by sourcing it from other coalfields and imported coal.
He said that the Simhadri station revived back to normal generating mode in a very short period of four days from the severe damage caused by Hudhud Cyclone on October 12 last year. He said that this financial year they would be generating 15,050 million units surpassing the last year’s 14,684 MU. The plant load factor, which was 87 per cent this year mainly due to havoc wrought by Hudhud, would go up to 92 per cent next year, Mr. Samanta said.
