National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), the country’s biggest power generation utility, is expected to offer consultancy support to state owned Odisha Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (OTPCL) for its 2,400 MW coal-fired power plant.
Since OTPCL, a 50:50 joint venture between Odisha Mining Corporation and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), is inexperienced in executing thermal power project, top state officials had requested NTPC to provide technical consultancy to the state PSU.
The power behemoth has been urged to help OTPCL in preparation of detailed project report (DPR), designing the plant specifications, developing tender documents, conducting bid for selection of equipment supplier and EPC (engineering procurement & construction) contractor, providing quality assurance support during the construction phase, commissioning of the project and post commissioning supervision for one year.
The 2,400 MW project of OTPCL proposed at Kamakhyanagar in Dhenkanal district and taken up a cost of Rs 10,000 crore, needs 1,969.78 acres of land which includes 987.77 acres of government land and 83.94 acres of forest land in addition to 982.015 acres of private land. Notification for land acquisition under Section 4 (1) of Land Acquisition Act has been issued. Notification under Section 6 (1) is expected to be issued soon.
The project has got administrative approval for acquisition of 982.015 acres of private land. The private land is to be acquired in 10 villages, Aluajharana (19.68 acres), Annapurnapur (447.30 acres), Bijadiha (20.81 ares), Bhagirathapur Sasana (15.2 acres), Dhobabaheli (5.89 acres), Kateni (84.24 acres), Kantapala (45.55 acres), Kusumajodi (244.04 acres), Mahulapala (24.98 acres) and Anlabereni (74.32 acres).
But OTPCL’s power project is mired in uncertainty after the two promoting PSUs- OMC and OHPC recently lost their allocated coal blocks- Mandakini-B and Baitarani West.
OTPCL is also finding it difficult to get a strategic partner for the project. The state government is in favour of offloading 74 per cent stake in the project to a private player given OTPCL’s lack of expertise in implementing thermal power plant.
“Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) are keen on picking up 26 per cent stake in OTPCL. But none of these Central PSUs is in favour of holding a controlling stake. Moreover, they are interested to take up equity only if their equipment is used in the power plant,” an official source had told Business Standard previously.
OTPCL has already got the water allocation from the department of water resources.
Entire power generated from the proposed power plant will be procured by Gridco, the state owned bulk power purchaser as per the tariff determined through the bidding process.
