NTPC Limited, country’s largest power generating company having an installed capacity of 30,144 Mw, is adding 6,500 Mw in the southern region. Of this, 1,000 Mw is for the Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station at Visakhapatnam, according to NTPC regional executive director (south) Ambarish N Dave.
Of the two 500 Mw units planned to be added at Simhadri, one unit would be ready by November 2010 while the second would come up in the subsequent phase. The Simhadri power plant expansion is estimated to cost about Rs 5,130 crore.
At a press conference here on Thursday, Dave said Andhra Pradesh would get about 35 per cent power from the new capacity addition at Simhadri. The remaining would be distributed in the southern region according to the agreements with the respective states. The entire power currently generated by the 1,000 Mw Simhadri plant is being used by the state.
In Tamil Nadu, the company would add another 500 Mw once its 1,000 Mw plant at Vallur is complete. The plant is being set up at an estimated cost of Rs 5,123 crore in joint venture with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
This apart, the company is also in the process of conducting feasibility studies for the 4,000 Mw power plant at Kudgi in Bijapur district of Karnataka. The project would be executed together with Power Company of Karnataka Limited for which a memorandum of understanding was signed in January this year. The project would have three units of 800 Mw each in Stage I and two units of similar capacity in Stage II.
Feasibility studies for multiple locations for a 500Mw wind power project in Karnataka too would be conducted soon.
He said NTPC was in talks with Gas Authority of India Limited for supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project at Kayamkulam in Kerala. The company would take up Stage II expansion of the project upon availability of fuel (LNG) at a viable cost. The proposed expansion would not require additional land.
The southern region achieved the highest-ever generation of 32,067.76 million units (mu) during the financial year 2008-09, surpassing the target of 29,775 mu.
