NTPC's Darlipali thermal plant to start in two years

Bhubaneswar, Feb 17: Upbeat over generation of 242 million extra units so far this fiscal as against the previous year, NTPC today said its Rs 13,000-crore Darlipali thermal power plant in Odisha's Sundargarh district will be commissioned in two years.

"The region has generated additional 242 million units till February 15 this financial year compared with the same period during 2014-15 and 2079 MU over the same period of 2013-14," Arvind Kumar, NTPC's Regional Executive Director, told reporters here. Maintaining that the Darlipali power plant is likely to be commissioned by February 2018, Kumar said the project is estimated to cost Rs 13,000 crore and there has been no escalation in the cost so far.

In the current fiscal, NTPC eastern region II takes the top spot in terms of plant load factor (PLF) achievement till January 2016, Kumar said, adding that both the operating stations are performing well. "Eastern region II has also bagged the prestigious MoU Trophy for best performing region in 2014-15 taking all the parameters into consideration," he said.

While Talcher Thermal Power Station has achieved the first position with a PLF of 92.96 per cent, Talcher Super Thermal Power Station, Kaniha, came in third with 89.64 per cent, said Kumar. About upcoming projects, Kumar said the thermal power plant with 1,600 MW (2x800 mw) installed capacity at Darlipali would cater to the energy demand of the region and the nation as a whole.

The construction work of Darlipali is on in full swing, he said. At present, the eastern region II has an installed capacity of 3,720 mw, which includes Talcher Thermal Power Station (460 mw), Talcher Super Thermal Power Station, Kaniha (3,000 mw), and Kaniha 10 mw Solar Plant) in Odisha and one unit at Bongaigaon (250 mw) in Assam.

Kumar said NTPC, which has promised to construct a medical college and hospital in Sundargarh district, will spend Rs 417 crore for the project. The medical college will be completed by the time the Darlipali power project is ready, he added.

PTI