NTPC puts in place ambitious expansion plan

At least 34 coal-based thermal power companies have offered to sell their projects to NTPC, the country's largest power producer. The Maharatna company, aiming to add 14,000 MW capacity by 2017, had asked companies through advertisement to offer their stranded projects for evaluation.

Informing the Rajya Sabha in this regard, Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said NTPC had sought expression of interest (EOI) from state electricity boards, power generation companies, independent power producers, among others, for offering their coal-based thermal power projects for possible acquisition.

"Against this EOI, 34 proposals have been received," Goyal stated.

The state-owned power generation firm is hopeful of finalising these proposals by the year-end. "It will evaluate the quality of equipment of these projects, the level of clearances they have achieved, coal availability and sourcing the fuel in case of non-availability before buying these thermal power stations," said Goyal. Stateowned NTPC is also reportedly in talks with private power companies like L& T and Shapoorji Pallonji Group with a view to taking over their stranded plants.

NTPC is currently constructing a 2,640 MW power plant in Barethi in Chhattarpur district of Madhya Pradesh at a cost of about Rs 18,000 crore.

With its investment plans of over Rs 1.5 lakh crore for the 12th Plan period (2012-17), NTPC remains crucial to the government's effort to speed up public sector investment to boost the economy. NTPC has an installed capacity of 43,019 MW through its 17 coal-based, seven gas-based, seven solar renewable and seven joint venture power stations contributing 28 per cent of the country's energy requirements.

NTPC Chairman & Managing Director Arup Roy Choudhury said the company has plans to become a 1,28,000 MW company in terms of installed capacity, with 28 per cent coming from non-fossil fuel sources such as renewable, hydro and nuclear.

NTPC has been able to achieve its highest ever capacity addition for the third consecutive year. During the financial year 2012-13, 4,170 MW was added against 2,820 MW in financial year 2011-12 and 2,490 MW in financial year 2010-11.

In terms of consumption patterns, India ranks among the lowest in the world. The per capita consumption of power in India has increased from 631 units in financial year 2005-06 to 917 units in financial year 2012-13. This is much less than the electricity consumption in the developed countries and leaves India with an enormous scope of capacity addition.

In association with Mail Today