NTPC hopes to break the ground for its two proposed super thermal power projects (STPP) with 1,600 MW capacity each at Darlipali in Sundargarh and Gajmara in Dhenkanal district this year. The company plans to invest more than Rs.25,000 crore in the two projects. “We have already been served demand notice for occupying land at Darlipali. About 1,632 acres is required for the project,” said Jaydeb Nanda, Regional Executive Director of NTPC's (East-II) zone, addressing a press conference here on Saturday. It would be a super critical power plant, the first of its kind to be set up in Odisha, Mr. Nanda said.
“To ensure the upcoming project gets uninterrupted raw material, NTPC will source 7 million tonnes per annum coal from Dulunga and 12.5 million tonnes from Pakri Barwadih blocks allotted to the company,” he said. The project would depend on Hirakud reservoir for sourcing water.
Similarly, according to Mr. Nanda, the proposed Gajmara project would require 1,039 acres in Dhenknal district.
At present, NTPC generates 3,460 MW of power from the State. It hoped to add another 4,500 MW from its three upcoming projects, including Darlipali and Gajamara. It has also proposed to add 1,320 MW capacity at its Talcher facility.
Pointing out that coal supply to its plants generation capacity had largely improved in recent months, Mr. Nanda said its STPP at Kaniha in Angul district was getting 60,000 tonnes of coal per day against the requirement of 52,000 tonnes. He, however, admitted that the facility had faced coal shortage in the past. “The company is all set to resolve the coal shortage for Kaniha facility once it starts operating the very near-by coal mine,” the NTPC top official said.
On the proposed medical college at Sundargarh, Mr. Nanda said, “we may spend around Rs.350 crore on the medical college. A patch of land measuring 25 acres has been identified. However, the medical college project has been linked up with the acquisition of land for Darlipali STPP. “A combined project proposal will be prepared for both the thermal project and the medical college.”
