MahaGenco puts 6,640 MW capacity addition on fast track

Power generation company says coal availability and cheap solar equipment are big boon

Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco) hopes to commission another 6,640 Mw in the 12th and 13th five-year plans (2012-17 and 2017-22).

Of this, 4,140 Mw will be coal-based and the other 2,500 Mw through solar energy. That would take its total installed capacity to 18,710 Mw.

A MahaGenco official told this newspaper: “(We) have started commercial production of 660 Mw at the Koradi plant, near Nagpur. Coal-based capacity  addition comprises 1,320 Mw at Koradi, 1,000 Mw at Chandrapur and 250 Mw at Parali; these units will be operational by mid-2016. The coal will be supplied from Western Coalfields. Production from MahaGenco’s captive mine, Gare Palma-II, will begin in three years.”

The official said it would also undertake development of 660 Mw each at the Bhusawal and Nashik plants, and 260 Mw at Paras. MahaGenco needs 47 million tonnes of coal a year. It says it is confident of uninterrupted supply.

On the solar capacity addition, the official said the company was in the midst of finalising various models. “Currently, (our) solar capacity is 180 Mw. The addition of 2,500 Mw is expected to be made in five years.” It has said it would not be pursuing any gas-based project. It is currently operating a 672 Mw gas-based plant at Uran, in Raigad district.