NTPC to invest Rs 2,648 cr in developing coal blocks in Odisha

MAHARATNA PSU NTPC will invest Rs 2648 crore for developing three coal blocks in Odisha. The state-run PSU plans to invest Rs 684 crore in the Dulanga coal block, which is linked to its Dariplalli super thermal power project with a capacity to generate 1,600 MW of power. The power project, which is supposed to come up in Sundargarh district, will attract an investment...
of Rs 12,532 crore from NTPC.  
“The first unit of the Darlipalli plant, which has the capacity to generate 800 Mw of power, is expected to be set up by February in 2018. Commercial operations would take off from August”, said Arvind Kumar, regional executive director (East-II), NTPC Ltd.
NTPC has already invested Rs 4,000 crore on the Darlipalli project. Half of the power generated at this plant will be supplied to the state to meet its energy demands. NTPC was also allocated the Mandakini-B coal block last year to help fuel its first 4,000-Mw power plant in Telangana. The Mandakini block will receive an investment worth Rs 1,500 crore. NTPC also entered into a joint venture (JV) with the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDCL) to form a JV company for mining at the Kudanali-Luburi coal block, where Rs 500 crore will be invested for development purposes.
The biggest thermal power generator is massively diversifying into renewable energy, especially solar power. In the green energy space, it is eyeing a generation capacity of 10,000 Mw in the next four to five years.
In Odisha, NTPC has plans to establish a 400 Mw solar power project with a total investment of Rs 2,200 crore. The solar generation capacity may even shoot up to 1,000 Mw depending on the availability of land, said Kumar.
The power utility at present, is generating 360 MW of solar energy with an additional 510 MW to be generated soon after the development work in multiple projects is completed. NTPC also has a good presence in hydroelectric power with a generation capacity of 800 Mw.
NTPC aims to increase power generation capacity to 75,000 Mw by 2025 and continue producing more thereafter.
In Odisha, the PSU has an investment portfolio of Rs 38,189 crore on multiple projects.
NTPC also plans to increase production from 120 MW to 370 MW at its joint venture captive power plant at the Rourkela steel unit, which will require a fresh investment of Rs 1,885 crore.
The total installed capacity of the country's largest power utility stood at 47,178 MW as on June 30, 2016 compared with 45,048 MW last year. The Maharatna PSU has over the years emerged as the dominant power major with presence in the entire value chain of the power generation business. From fossil fuels it has forayed into generating electricity via hydro, nuclear and renewable energy sources. To strengthen its core business, NTPC has diversified into the fields of consultancy, power trading, training of power professionals, rural electrification, ash utilisation and coal mining as well. NTPC was ranked 400th in the ‘2016, Forbes Global 2000’ ranking of the World’s biggest companies.