Coal news and updates

Lack of Coal Linkage Blocks TTPS Expansion

The expansion of 460 MW Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) at Talcher has been inordinately delayed for want of coal linkage.

Talcher Thermal, a unit of power major National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited and dedicated to Odisha, is in dire need of expansion.

According to power experts, as the current power plant is set to complete 50 years in 2022 and as per the norm is likely to be wound up by that time, expansion before that year is the need of the hour.

Though NTPC has been mulling expansion since 2007-08 to add two 660 MW units, lack of coal linkage has put a spanner in its progress.

The proposed expansion of the power plant, from where the power now goes to Odisha grid, will be of great help to the State in tiding over the power crisis.

Facing delay in getting a nod for the linkage from the Union Coal Ministry, NTPC had planned to source coal from its own mine in Jharkhand. But that was not possible as the mining works there are yet to begin.

Addressing mediapersons at TTPS, group General Manager of the plant KRC Murty said the moment coal linkage is made available, process for expansion work will begin on a war-footing.

He said there will be no environmental clearance as per law without coal linkage.

“A public hearing for expansion of the plant was held in 2010 but that stood cancelled on expiry of two years. We are going to hold fresh hearing within three to four months,” Murty said.

As regards Odisha’s share in the expansion project, he said it will depend on the power purchase agreement with the State. If pithead coal is available, the cost will be one of the cheapest in India, he added.

The GGM, however, gave no timeframe about getting the linkage saying NTPC is trying to get it as early as possible.

The plant chief also said TTPS is now the front running station in the field of achieving plant load factor in the country.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com