NTPC targets to produce 75,000 mw of power by 2017

Patna, May 05: Keeping in view the country's increasing demand for power, National Thermal Power Corporation(NTPC) has targetted to increase its production capacity to 75,000 mw from 27,000 mw by 2017.

On the eve of the commissioning of a 500 mw coal-based unit at the Kahalgaon Super Thermal Power station in Bhagalpur district by Energy Minister Sushil Kumar Shindhe, NTPC sources here today said, however, prior to reaching the 75,000 mw target within the next ten years, the Croporation had planned to produce at least 51,000 mw of power by 2012 in phases.

About the NTPC's plan to reach the projected target, the sources said besides maximising the usage of coal they had planned to harnees the potential of gas and oil-based units and adopt other environment-friendly methods.

Elaborating further about the Kahalgaon project, the sources said following the commissioning of the new 500 mw unit its installed capacity would jack up to 1340 mw before reaching the projected 2340 mw by the next decade through the installation of two more such units in the coming years.

With this, NTPC would be in a position to meet the majority of demand for power from most of the Eastern, North Eastern and Southern states, the sources said and added that the necessary coal would be sourced from Rajmahal mines under the Eastern Coal Fields Limited.

UNI