NTPC commences socio-economic survey for Kaniha expansion

NTPC, the largest power generating utility in the country, has commenced a socio-economic survey for its proposed expansion of the 3000 Mw super-thermal power station at Kaniha, near Talcher.

The power producer is adding 1600 Mw (2x800) at the Kaniha station as part of its Stage-III expansion. NTPC holds 110 acres north-east of Stage-II plant. The BTG (boiler turbine generator) block with gas insulated sub-station and all the auxiliaries can be accommodated in the existing vacant area. NTPC has proposed to install two cooling towers within the MGR (Merry Go Round) bulb.

“NTPC has completed market survey for ash utilisation potential. Identification of suitable land of about 1400 acres is being carried out,” a company official said.

The Kaniha station is among the top three performing stations of NTPC with a PLF (plant load factor) of 90.95% (2015-16). NTPC also runs a solar power plant of 10 Mw capacity at Kaniha, all of which is sold to Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC).

From the 3000 Mw Kaniha unit, Odisha gets 523.44 Mw as state share. NTPC gets coal from the linked mines of Lingraj and Kaniha owned by Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL). It has a fuel supply agreement (FSA) for 17.3 million tonnes (MT) of coal. The power station is spread over 3890 acres, with an investment of Rs 8199 crore on the Kaniha super thermal power station, including the solar power plant.

The combined installed capacity of NTPC plants within Odisha is expected to surge to 4770 Mw by 2022 (up from 3470 Mw now) with NTPC going ahead with the 1320 Mw expansion of its Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS), and establishment of a 1600 Mw super thermal power unit at Darlipalli in Sundargarh district.

In its second phase of expansion, NTPC will add two supercritical units of 660 Mw each at TTPS whose current capacity is 460 Mw. Odisha had sought 500 Mw from the second stage capacity ramp up of TTPS that NTPC acquired from the erstwhile Orissa State Electricity Board (OSEB) in 1995.

Construction work on the Darlipalli super thermal power project was going on in full swing. The project estimated to cost Rs 13,000 crore, is expected to be commissioned by 2018. NTPC is also setting up a medical college and hospital at a cost of Rs 417 crore linked to the Darlipalli project. The project would draw coal from the Dulanga block allocated to the maharatna PSU. NTPC hopes to commence mining from this coal block after obtaining all the clearances.