JSPL’s Raigad expansion project gets in-principle green nod…

Jindal Power’s Rs. 13,140 Crorer expnasion project in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh received an in-principle clearances from the MoEF. This will pave the way for engineering and construction work to resume at the plant site.

The clearance is only for the first two units of 600 MW each under the expansion project. The total capacity of expansion project is 2,400 MW having 4 units of 600 MW each at Tamnar Thermal Power Project in Gharghoda tehsil of Raigarh district.

According to MoEF website "Environmental clearance shall be applicable for 2x600-MW only. However, at a later stage, when firm coal linkage for the third and fourth unit of 600 MW are also available, the project proponent may request the ministry for inclusion of 2x600-MW, which the ministry may consider appropriately on merit.”

The preliminary clearance had been withdrawn by MoEF after some allegations that Jindal Power had not followed the Terms of Reference (TOR) stipulated by the government.

Among the conditions stipulated by the ministry for the grant of final environmental clearance, the company has been asked to secure certain permissions from the Coal Ministry, as some of the plant area falls in coal-bearing area.

In addition, the Environment Ministry has directed the company to finalise a vision document outlining its plans for the site within six months.
The Environment Ministry clearance also makes it mandatory for the company to establish a three-tier green belt around the plant, as well as undertake specific schemes for the welfare of tribals affected by the project.

The company will have to earmark Rs 53.60 crore as a one -time investment on corporate social responsibility activities and recurring expenditure on CSR initiatives shall not be "less than Rs 10.7 crore per annum till the operation of the plant", as per the ministry's clearance.
"The proposed project is to entail an investment of Rs 13,410 crore, of which over Rs 10,000 crore debt has been tied up," the company said after getting the Environment Ministry's nod.

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MTSL 1980 MW Thermal Project at Raigarh - 8 companies in the race…

Spark Network found that around 8 power companies have bided for the 1980 MW Thermal Power Project of Maha Tamil Collieries. The project is proposed to be set up at Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh.

Eight power companies are known to have bid for the 1,980-Mw thermal power project of Maha Tamil Collieries, in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh.

The list of the companies include Reliance Power, GVK, Lanco Infratech, GMR, L&T, Sterlite Energy, JSW Energy and Indiabulls Power. The cost of the project estimated at Rs. 15,000 Crore. The project being a pit-head will be located right at the attached coal mine. The mine, Gare Pelma – II produces 15 mt annual output and having reserves of around 768 million tonnes.

Maha Tamil Collieries is a joint venture company of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) and the Mahrashtra State Mining Corporation, each an arm of their respective state governments. TNEB has 77 per cent of the equity and MSMC the rest. The JV will allow the successful bidder to use coal from the mine to put up the power capacity. The developer must, after satisfying obligations to the host state (Chhattisgarh), sell half the remaining power produced to the state electricity boards of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The other half can be sold on a “merchant basis” though the two boards will have first right of refusal on these, too. And, any extra coal from the mine should be diverted back to the joint venture company.

The bid rules asked for companies with at least three years experience in mining 10 million tonnes in the past three years, either in India or abroad. Bidders who have been selected to develop a coal mine with geological reserves of 250 million tonnes are also qualified.

Spark Network believes that the bid qualifications are very strict and very few companies can qualify,  but the project has generated huge interest because it is one the biggest power projects seeking bids after the Tilaiya (in Jharkhand) ultra mega power project (UMPP) bids.

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GoM to phase out six generating units of Chandarpur…

Maharashtra Government has decided to phase out at least six generating units at coal-based power plants, which have outlived their utility.

Spark Network believes that auction of these will generate additional amount of land and resources which can be used to develop new power plants or other industries. These units were established in Chandarpur more than 40 years back and have maximum 40 MW generating capacity.

Being coal-based projects, these units are  not only cost intensive but also a major sources of pollution. The decision of Maharashtra Government was in context with the various measures and reforms in the power sector initiated by the state, in coordination with the Union government, for attaining the promised target of a zero-load-shedding Maharashtra by 2012.

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