Orissa to set up 1000 MW Thermal Plant

Bhubaneswar, Mar 30 (UNI) Orissa government is contemplating to set up a 1000 MW thermal power plant at Kamalang in Dhenkanal district at an estimated cost of Rs.4000 crores.

State Energy Minister S N Patra told UNI today that the thermal plant would be executed by the state-owned Orissa Hydel Power Corporation(OHPC) which has so far been confined to setting up hydel generation units in the state.

Mr Patra said the Memorandum of Article of the OHPC would be amended so that it could take up the generation from the Thermal power plant.

The Minister said the Mines and Mineral Trading Corporation (MMTC) has also taken keen interest to be a partner in the venture and its officials had held discussion with their OHPC counterparts in this regard.

Mr Patra said the state government, on the other hand, was interested to keep the profit making Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) as one of the partners in the project.

He said since the OMC is having coal blocks under its possession and surplus funds, it could be an ideal partner for the OHPC to establish the Thermal power plant.

The OHPC is presently having an installed capacity of 1872 MW of power generating from Hirakud, Rengali, Balimela, Indravati and Kolab Hydel power projects.

The detail of the power project, would be finalised in the first week of April, Mr Patra added.

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