NLC India powering mega expansion drive

Solar project to the tune of 10-MW at Neyveli is in final stage of completion, 300-MW at Barsingsar, Rajasthan is under execution, and 810-MW at Pugal Tehsil, Bikaner is expected to start execution shortly. A 200-MW project on Pan India basis has been awarded, and a 600-MW project at Khavda, Gujarat is in initial stage - M Prasanna Kumar, CMD, NLC India Ltd

Hyderabad: NLC India Ltd (NLCIL), a Navratna public-sector enterprise, has set an ambitious target of 183 per cent growth in power generation at 17,171MW by 2030 from 6,061.06 MW now. Similarly, it also aims 60 per cent increase in its mining capacity to 84 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) by 2030, from its present capacity of 52.1 MTPA.

Since its foray into the renewable energy (RE) sector in 2013, the central public-sector company under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal has been betting big on both solar and wind energy. It has charted out plans to generate 6,031 MW, including 5,880-MW solar energy and 151-MW wind energy, by 2030. It has set a target of 11,140-MW coal & lignite based power generation in seven years.

“NLCIL has prepared a corporate plan for 2030, under which it has proposed a massive capital expenditure of approximately Rs 82,760 crore for enhancing mining, power generation and diversifying the businesses. Out of this, about Rs 22,000 crore will be utilised for the RE sector,” NLCIL Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) M Prasanna Kumar told Bizz Buzz.

“Through our subsidiary Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited (NUPPL), we are developing 1,980-MW super critical thermal power station (TPS) at Ghatampur, Uttar Pradesh. The first unit of the station is expected to be commissioned by December 2023. The subsequent units will be commissioned with an interval of three months,” the CMD informed.

“NUPPL has been allotted 9-MTPA Pachwara South Coal Block in Jharkhand for meeting the coal requirement of Ghatampur TPS. Preliminary actions for setting up three 60-MW TPS have been completed and the actions necessary for coal mining is underway. The estimated capex on this project is Rs 19,500 crore. We are about to commission the first phase by this December,” he added.

Preliminary actions are underway for establishing three 800-MW ultra super critical TPS at Talabira, Odisha. The company is in the process of acquiring land of over 2,000 hectares. This project is a pit head power project and thus achieving best merit order rating. The project will have an 800-MW additional unit in phase II. The estimated capex on this project is Rs 20,000 crore.

NLCIL plans to add 1,320MW with two 660-MW super-critical lignite-based boilers in Neyveli area in Tamil Nadu. The estimated capex on this project is Rs 15,000 crore. The company has been declared as the successful bidder for North Dhadu (western part) coal mine in Jharkhand under the commercial coal block e-auction by the Ministry of Coal recently.

The company has been allotted Pachwara South Coal Block of 9-MTPA capacity and North Dhadu (western part) Coal Block of peak rated capacity of 3-MTPA in Jharkhand. The thermal projects to the tune of 1,980 MW and 2,400 MW are in various stages of implementation. The 1,320-MW capacity at Neyveli is still at planning stage.

Speaking about the RE projects, Prasanna Kumar said that the solar project to the tune of 10-MW at Neyveli is in final stage of completion, 300-MW at Barsingsar, Rajasthan is under execution, and 810-MW at Pugal Tehsil, Bikaner is expected to start execution shortly. A 200-MW project on Pan India basis has been awarded, and a 600-MW project at Khavda, Gujarat is in initial stage.

“We are contemplating establishing 2,000-MW Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park in the State of Tamil Nadu through a proposed JV company with TANGEDCO and PFCCL. Our corporate plan envisages 6,031-MW RE capacity by 2025. This capacity is proposed to be revised upward in the upcoming plan,” he added.

Currently, NLCIL has additional commitment of developing 2,060 MW of RE projects. After reaching a stable position of developing this capacity, it will further ramp up its RE endeavour. It has ambitious plan to establish a 600-MW solar power project in the second phase of Gujarat State Electricity Corporation’s (GSECL) solar park located in Khavda, Gujarat.

The company intends to form a JV company with the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) for establishing 1,000-MW solar project at Assam.