NTPC to acquire power plants of 34 power companies: Minister Goyal

MoS (I/C) for Power Piyush Goyal 

INDIA'S largest thermal ower producer NTPC got a shot in its arm when Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal informed the Upper House that as many as 34 companies have sent proposals to sell their coal-based projects to the Maharatna PSU. NTPC is on an expansion drive, Parliament was...
informed.
"NTPC sought Expression of Interest (EOI) from state electricity boards, power generation companies, independent power producers etc for offering their coal-based thermal power projects for possible acquisition," Power Minister Piyush Goyal said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
The company advertised the same, asking companies to come forward with their stranded projects, which it will evaluate one by one and then take a call. Against this EOI, 34 proposals have been received, he added.
Earlier, indiapublicsector.com on May 19, 2014 reported that NTPC has geared up to buy Rs. 30,000 crore worth of coal-based power projects. The Maharatna PSU has received 31 proposals in response to an expression of interest (EoI) floated by NTPC.
NTPC hopes that these proposals will be given final shape by the end of the calender year. NTPC will evaluate the quality of equipment of these projects, the level of clearances they have achieved, coal availability and sourcing the fuel in case of non-availability before buying these thermal power stations.
NTPC aims to add 14,000 MW capacity by 2017.
Meanwhile, Goyal said that the public sector firms are sourcing power equipment as per their need and their procurement policy on competitive rates from local as well as foreign companies. An advisory was issued by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on August 30, 2013.
It stated that in the bids to be invited by central or state sector power generating companies for boilers and turbine generator of super critical projects, condition of setting up of phased indigenous manufacturing facilities has to be incorporated. This advisory is valid up to October 2015, the minister added.
Presently, NTPC generates power from coal and gas. With an installed capacity of 42,464 MW, NTPC is the largest power generating major in the country. It has also diversified into hydro power, coal mining, power equipment manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, power trading & distribution. With an increasing presence in the power value chain, NTPC is well on its way to becoming an “integrated power major.”