Maharashtra plans imported coal-based power unit near Dabhol

The Maharashtra government is planning to set up a 1500-Mw imported coal-based power plant near the Dabhol plant. This will be in addition to the 4,000 Mw ultra mega coastal power project that is proposed to be set up at Girye in the state.

While gas is yet to be tied up for NTPC's Dabhol Ratnagiri Gas and Power plant, the state is planning this move to meet its rising power demand.

"The cost of generation is expected to be around Rs 2 per unit. The plant has been planned near Dabhol so that the existing jetty facility can be used for unloading the imported coal," a power ministry official told Business Standard.

Power from the Ratnagiri plant, which will use naptha as fuel, will be sold at Rs 4.25 a unit. "Work will be started on the jetty to increase its handling capacity for the imported coal," the official added. The plant may require an investment of around Rs 6,450 crore.

Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation is also planning to take up expansion of Koradi (two units of 500 Mw each) and Chandrapur (one 500 Mw unit) thermal power projects. Expansion of the Uran gas turbine project (1040 Mw) and the Talegaon combined cycle project (1400 Mw) is also in the pipeline.

Maharashtra is facing a power shortage of around 4,500 Mw per day leading to load shedding for around 6 to 14 hours a day. After the Girye plant is operational, it will provide power to Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka.