Coal linkages to 4 new UP thermal power units

Lucknow, July 27 (UNI) Power starved Uttar Pradesh has received a boost as two Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have signed coal linkage agreement with UP Thermal Power Generation Corporation, for supply of fuel to the four new units of 250 MW each to be set up at existing plants at Parichha and Harduaganj, thus adding a fresh generation capacity of 1,000 MW.

As per the agreement, the Bharat Coal Company Limited (BCCL) will supply 1.98 million MT of coal for new unit of 250X2 MW capacities at Pariccha in Jhansi.

The Central Coal Limited (CCL) will supply the same quantity to the new unit of 250X2 MW, at Harduaganj plant in Aligarh.

All the remaining formalities for the four new units are expected to be completed by October and the construction work is likely to commence soon after.

The UP Thermal Power Generation Corporation Limited, in June had placed orders with the BHEL, worth Rs 2,448 crore for supplying equipment for four 250 MW thermal power units in Pariccha and Harduaganj thermal power stations. BHEL will supply boiler, turbine and generators for the 4 new units, while the corporation has floated open tenders for the Balance of plant (BOP) works, which includes coal and ash handling plants and other miscellaneous works.

The power generation at the 250X2 units at Pariccha unit is likely to commence within 35 months, while at the Harduaganj in next 39 months, from the date of commencement of the construction work.

The four units are targeted to be commissioned in 2008-09.

The state government in December 2005, in view of the mounting power crisis had approved a proposal for the expansion of the power generation capacity of the existing thermal power plants. As per the proposal, a total of fresh capacity 1,550 MW was proposed to be added by installing new units at Panki, Obra, Pariccha and Harduaganj. Of the four plants, the expansion of the Panki unit was gas based and has been deferred for the non availability of the gas.

The Power Finance Corporation of India has already agreed to fund the expansion project of the Pariccha and Harduaganj thermal power stations. The PFC has communicated its consent to the UP thermal Power generation corporation to fund the expansion project to the tune of Rs 2,660 crore. Rest of the cost would be met from the budgetary support by the UP government.

''The PFC would fund nearly 70 per cent of the project cost and the rest would be provided by the state government through the budgetary support'' said Ashok Khurana, Principal Secretary energy adding that for the current fiscal 2006-07, a provision of Rs 400 crore has been made in the state budget for the purpose. Loan from the PFC would be against the borrowing of the assets of the power generation utility.

UP government returning to good old 'public sector' had in December last approved a plan for adding 1,000 MW of additional capacity in next three years with an estimated investment of over Rs 5,000 crores. The government had also approved a plan for investment of Rs 1,000 crore for strengthening the transmission network for wheeling additional 1,000 Mw of power.

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