Installed capacity of CGPs to increase by 440 MW

The installed capacity of the Captive Generating Plants (CGPs) in Orissa is set to increase by more than 400 Mw by the end of the current year.

This will take the total installed capacity of the CGPs to about 2961Mw by December, this year from 2561Mw at present.

The public sector National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco), Sponge Iron , Aryan Ispat, Bindal Sponge and IFFCO are likely to contribute to the additional capacity.

Out of the total 2561 Mw CGP capacity at present Nalco’s contribution is 960 Mw.

Other major contributors to the projected installed capacity include Hindalco, Hirakud (367.5 Mw), Bhusan Power and Steel, Jharsuguda (100 Mw), Bhusan Steel Ltd.,Meramundali (100 Mw),Vedanta Aluminium Ltd., Jharsuguda (405 Mw), Jindal Stainless Ltd., Kalinganagar (250 Mw), IMFA, Choudwar (108 Mw), Rourkela Steel Plant (Inadvertent power of 270 Mw) and Visa Steel, Kalinganagar(50 Mw).

Sources said, the new CGPs which are expected to be synchronised in next couple of weeks are Orissa Sponge Iron Ltd. (36 Mw), Aryan Ispat (45 Mw), Bindal Sponge Ltd.(12.5) and IFFCO (110 Mw).

Besides, Nalco is expected to add 240 Mw to its existing capacity of 960 Mw by the end of 2009.

The state owned Grid Corporation of Orissa Ltd. (Gridco) is procuring power from 20 CGPs who have surplus power to sell. It is also in talks with the upcoming CGPs to procure at least 30 percent power of their installed capacity.

The Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), in its interim order on 28 February 2009 approved rates for procurement of power from CGPs. It has fixed the rate for firm power fron CGPs at Rs 3 per Kwh and Rs 3.10 per kWh for firm surplus power from renewable sources including generation from waste heat recovery.

The state level regulator has also relaxed certain conditions like providing SCADA for synchronisation of CGPs with the transmission licensee OPTCL enabling Gridco can harness the bottled up surplus power to meet the demand of the state.

While the present power requirement of power of the state is about 2360Mw, about 260 Mw are being supplied by the CGPs, sources added.