NTPC JV takes over Patratu power plant

Jharkhand today handed over assets of Patratu Thermal Power Station (PTPS) to a joint venture company of NTPC and the state government.
Terming it a big step in the direction of power generation in Jharkhand to attain self sufficiency, Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam MD Rahul Purwar said the resources, including the PTPS plant, were handed over to the JV for setting up 8,000 MW new thermal power unit in two phases.
NTPC in October last incorporated Patratu Vidyut Utpadan Nigam in a joint venture with Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd for operating the PTPS plant in the state.
NTPC holds 74 per cent stake in the JV while the rest is with the state government. The JV will renovate and modernise the performing existing units and further capacity expansion of PTPS.

Jharkhand would get 85 per cent power from the JV as per the MoU. Patratu plant at present has a power generation capacity of 800 MW.
Purwar, however, said the Patratu reservoir has not been transferred to the JV as there was another agreement with the state government for water from the reservoir.

Replying to a question, Purwar said request for laying foundation stone for the JV power plant was sent to the PMO and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed on May 3, 2015 between NTPC and Jharkhand government.
The MoA was for performance improvement and capacity expansion of 4,000 MW in Phase-I, likely to be completed in 2020 and Phase-II by 2024.

He said under Phase-1, 3x800 MW capacity plant would be constructed, while the existing PTPS plant would be revived by the JV with a target to get 300 MW from the old plant.
Purwar said the Union Minister of Coal has assured the JV to allot Barhani coal block, which would fulfil the energy requirement of the plant.