| Shifting from its original plans, WBPDCL has now decided to adopt the combined cycle technology for projects to be undertaken in the 11th Five Year plan period. |
| Initially the plan was to set up 2000 MW (4 X 500 MW) coal-fired power plants in the 11th Plan period. |
| With gas being made available by Gail, it has recently signed a head of agreement (HOA) deal for gas supply to its new plants. |
| "WBPDCL would like Gail to supply eight million metric tonnes of gas per day for our proposed 4 X 500 MW plants. The gas is likely to be made available through one of the two pipelines. The first would be through the Uttar Pradesh - Jagdishpur - Kolkata pipeline, while the second option would be the Andhra Pradesh - Kakinada - Haldia pipeline," explained S Mahapatra, managing director, WBPDCL. |
| "There is also a third option "" the pipeline that would be through Myanmar - Bongaon to West Bengal. |
| However, if this one does not materialise - we have the previous two options of procuring gas," he added. |
| "The price of the gas is yet to be arrived at by both the parties and we would sign a gas sale agreement (GSA) at a later stage," explained Mahapatra. |
| The first 1000 MW would be at Sagardighi which would have two 500 MW plants while the second would be with a capacity of another 1000 MW (2 X 500 MW). |
| The idea is to run these four units with gas. Initially the plan was to set up coal-fired thermal power plants, but if gas is available WBPDCL would go ahead with gas. |
| WBPDCL will set up 2000MW of new generating capacity in the 11th Plan period and is in the process of securing government permission. |
| "Rising cost and scarcity of coal both in the international and the domestic market has forced WBPDCL to go for gas," Mahapatra explained. |
| The schedule for supplying gas to West Bengal was likely to match the schedule for erecting the four plants. |
| "WBPDCL would be in a position to receive gas once these four units are ready," he said. |
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