Tata's Mundra UMPP likely to be commissioned ahead of schedule

Tata Power's 4000 Mw coal-based ultra mega power plant (UMPP) at Mundra in Gujarat is likely to be commissioned ahead of schedule.

Addressing a gathering at CII's Energy Conclave here, Gujarat principal secretary, Energy and Petrochemicals, S Jagdeesan said that Tata power is running much ahead of schedule at Mundra.

"Tata will commission their Mundra power project much in advance," he said.

When asked, Tata Power managing director Prasad Menon said, "we are attempting at what the secretary has said. We are working on it and are hopeful of commissioning the first unit ahead of its scheduled deadline, September 2011".

However, he declined to comment on how early it would be.

Tata power had bagged the Mundra UMPP by quoting lowest tariff rate of Rs 2.26 per unit. The imported coal-based plant will comprise of five super-critical units of 800 Mw each and orders for equipment have been placed with Japan's Toshiba and Korea's Doosan.

Of the 4000 Mw power to be generated at the plant, 1900 Mw electricity will be supplied to Gujarat, 800 Mw to Maharashtra, 500 Mw to Punjab, while Rajasthan and Haryana will get 400 Mw each.

Tata Power is investing Rs 200 billion in the UMPP located in the coastal town of Kutch district in Gujarat.