State-owned NTPC expects to commission 750 MW solar power project in Anantapur by the end of next fiscal.
"In Anantapur of Andhra Pradesh we are installing 1,000 MW of solar power project, out of which 250 MW has been commissioned, rest 750 MW will be commissioned by the end of 2017-18," NTPC's Regional Executive Director (South) V B Fadnavis said at a press conference here.
A senior official of the PSU said the company is in the process of inviting bids from the foreign companies for supplying necessary equipment and the same is expected to be over by April next year.
Fadnavis said NTPC has been entrusted to develop combined capacity of 1,900 MW solar power projects in Mahabubnagar in Telangana , Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh and Pavagada in Karnataka.
According to him, the power projects located in the southern region has Plant Load factor (PLF) of 80 per cent.
With regard to the 4,000 MW Telangana Super critical Power Project, the NTPC official said contracts have been awarded for setting up the plant.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone for first phase (2X800) of the project on August 7 at Ramagundam.
The Ministry of Coal has allotted Mandakini-B coal mine of Odisha and tapering coal from Singareni Collieries. However, for the 4,000 MW-Lalamkodur Plant in AP, he said the company is awaiting necessary approvals from the departments concerned as the source of fuel for the project has been changed from imported coal to domestic coal.
"We are in the process of getting approvals for the change of fuel type. There may be some change in the designs involved," Fadnavis said.
The senior official quoted above said with the change in the source of fuel, considerable foreign exchange can be saved in future.
To a query, he said the power producer has to "back down" power generation in some plants due to lack of demand.
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