1000 MW power unit at Katwa soon

West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd (WBPDCL) has decided to set up a green field, gas based, 1000 MW (2 x 500MW) plant at Katwa in Bardhaman district at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore.

"We will shortly submit documents to the state government for approval. Construction is likely to begin in the 11th Five Year Plan," explained S Mahapatra, managing director of WBPDCL.

"We have already identified a 12-acre site around five kilometers from Katwa railway station. With minimal habitat in the region, we are not likely to face any evacuation problem, nor are we likely to face any objection from the pollution control boards," he added.

The project was likely to be complete in four years and cost of power generation at the plant would give WBPDCL enough margin to sell power at Rs 2.5 per unit if powered by gas.

"We intend to take up the project in 2007 which is likely to be complete by 2010," he said.

"At WBPDCL we have, however also kept the option of powering the plant with coal in case gas does not reach the state by the time we take up the project," he added.

"The location of the plant has been so chosen to enable coal transport from three locations "" Bardhaman, Asansol and Panchnana coal mines in Jharkhand all owned by WBPDCL, in case it uses coal instead of gas," Mahapatra said.

This mines have reserves 180 million tonnes.

WBPDCL will mine around six million tonnes every year for existing and new units.

The Katwa plant would be set up in two phases of 500 MW in the first and another 500 MW in the second.

"The project proposal has been finalised," said Mahapatra.

WBPDCL has already applied to the Bengal state government for a sixth unit at Bakreswar - a 500 MW plant for completion by 2008.

"We expect the green signal from the government soon," he added.

It has also prepared a detailed plan for setting up two additional units of 500 MW each (1000 MW) at Sagardighi for completion by 2009. Gas Authority of India Ltd will supply gas for an additional 2500MW capacity if gas is available and cheaper when the projects come up.