Adani Power set to commission third unit in Tiroda this month

Adani Power Maharashtra Ltd, which has synchronised its two units at Tiroda in Gondia district, is all set to commission its third unit later this month, a senior company official has said.

The power plant in Gondia, about 150 km from here, had ran into trouble when the coal block alloted to them in Lohara near Tadoba forest (Chandrapur) was cancelled since it was located in deep forest in eco-sensitive zone.

However, Adani Power Maharashtra -- a 100-per cent subsidiary of Adani Power-- which had drawn an ambitious plan to set up 3,300 MW power plant (5x660), decided to go ahead with import  of coal, seeking coal linkage from Coal India besides an alternative coal block exclusively for its Tiroda plant.

First two units had been synchronised on August 28, 2012 and on January 30, 2013, respectively and the third unit will go full steam anytime later this month, O P Bhardwaj, Plant Head at Tiroda, told reporters here yesterday.

The thermal power plant is the biggest in central India and the first supercriticial technology-based unit, he said.

That the benefit of super critical technology is less requirement of coal and lower emission.

Spread over 540 hectares of land, the plant erection work started in February 2009 and Adani Power was importing about three millon coal annually to run the show.

Now, the company is in the process of seeking new coal block in nearby area via fresh bidding and also seeking coal linkage from the Coal Ministry through Coal India.

The Fuel Supply Agreement will be carried out soon, Bhardwaj said.

Senior Vice-President Ajit Bordia from company headquarters in Ahmedabad, who was also present, said when all the five units are commissioned, Maharashtra will be a power surplus state.

The company is also seeking review of power purchase agreement (PPA) with the state government as present cost of production was too high against the PPA when coal supply from Lohara was assured, he said.