In his Independence Day speech, NLC's Chairman-Cum-Managing Director B Surender Mohan said the company is setting up smaller solar projects of 10/15 MW capacity in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan with a total capacity of 50 MW.
"In addition to these solar projects, it is proposed to install 100 MW solar project at Neyveli, for which identification of suitable land is under progress," said Mohan.
He added, the company is talking to Tamil Nadu and with other states tp get required and for setting up of higher capacity solar projects of 500 MW and above. These projects will be implemented based on land availability and techno economic viability of the project.
He added, the 2X250 MW TPS II Expansion Project in Neyveli and NLC's maiden coal based 2X500 MW joint venture power project, NTPL at Tuticorin. Though it was unduly delayed, commercial operation declaration (COD) of both the units of TPS-II Expansion has now been achieved through which the company has taken its power generation capacity to 3,240 MW from 2,740 MW.
COD of First 500 MW unit of Tuticorin project, NTPL has also been achieved and commissioning activities of Second Unit is in advanced stage to attain COD at the earliest.
In 2014-15, physical performance of NLC all mines put together have removed 1,592.98 LM of over burden and produced 265.43 LT of Lignite against the target of 1550 LM in OB removal and 256 LT in Lignite production with the achievements by 102.77 per cent and 103.68 per cent respectively. But in power generation, against the target of 20,285 million unit, total generation was 19,729.39 million units.
Shortfall was mainly on account of delay in commissioning of new projects.
In 2014-15, the company recorded a turnover of Rs 6,087.68 crore as against Rs 5,967.23 crore in 2013-14 and registered an ever highest profit of Rs 1,579.68 crore as against Rs 1,501.88 crore, a year ago.
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Capacity augmentation
The company, which comes under Ministry of Coal, has lined up new projects which will take its total power production capacity to 12,221 mega watt, including coal based, solar and wind power projects, and its annual lignite production would become 49.50 million tonnes.
Mohan said 2X500 MW Neyveli New Thermal Power Project, which is being constructed as replacement for the existing TPS-I with the commissioning schedule of October 2017 and April 2018.
With regard to the 51 MW wind power project, being implemented at Tirunelvei District out of 34 wind turbines each of 1.5 MW, 9 wind turbines have been commissioned. Erection of 10 MW solar power project at Neyveli is progressing and it is expected to be commissioned shortly.
The 3X660 MW coal based Ghatampur Power Project of Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd, a JV between NLC and UPRVUNL, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change has accorded environment clearance for the project under the category of imported coal and it now it is under the consideration of Public Investment Board to recommend for Government sanction. However, in order to commence the project activities immediately on Government's approval, advance action has been taken already for tendering to finalise the major package contractors.
The 4,000 MW coal based 'Sirkali Thermal Power Project' in Tamil Nadu, administrative sanction from Government of Tamil Nadu for land acquisition is expected soon.
For the mine development of Pachwara-South Coal block at Jharkhand as fuel linkage to the proposed 3X660 MW Ghatampur Power Project, Global tender has been floated to invite Express of Interest (EOI) proposal from mind development operators for the mine development activities right from detailed exploration to mine development and production of coal.
With regard to Jilga-Barpali Coal Block development for the fuel linkage to the proposed 4,000 MW Sirkali Thermal Power Project, as the coal block is not suitable owing owing to adverse geo-mining conditions, the company has requested the Ministry of Coal to allot a suitable coal block under coal mines Ordinance-2014.
The company also requested MoC to consider for allotment of Mahanadi & Machakatta Coal Block, so that requirement of Coal for NTPL & NUPPL can be met.
The 1X250 MW Thermal Power Project with a linked 2.25MTPA lignite Mine at Bithnok and 1X250 MW Barsingsar Thermal Power Station Expansion power Project linked with 1.9 MTPA Hadla Lignite Mine and expansion of existing Barsingsar Mine in Bikaner Distrct of Rajsthan.
A 2X500 MW Thermal Power Station-II-2nd Expansion linked with 9.0 MTPA Mine-III project at Neyveli, utilising the mineable lignite reserves of about 380 Million Tonnes available in the area south of the existing Mine-II.
Restructuring of Mine-I & IA at Neyveli to increase the capacity from 13.50 to 15 MTPA and Mine-II augmentation from 15 MTPA to 18.75 MTPA at Neyvli.