Neyveli Lignite to add 15,000 Mw

Navratna PSU will invest Rs 90,000 cr, of which 30% will be equity

Navaratna company Neyveli Lignite Corporation is planning to add 15,000 Mw of power with an investment of around Rs 90,000 crore, of which 30% of will be infused as its equity.

A R Ansari, chairman and managing director, NLC said that the proposed addition will be done before 2020-22.

"Being a Navaratna company we have to pump 30 per cent of the project cost as equity".

For now we have a reserve of Rs 6,000 crore and in the next 10 years Rs 30,000 crore will be infused as equity from own reserves.

The lignite-based power major is now betting big on coal. The company has lined up 80% of the upcoming projects, which will be based on coal.

These includes 2,000 Mw each in Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and one in Sirkazhi, Tamil Nadu. "We may go upto 4,000 Mw in these sites", said Ansari.

"For every 1,000 MW we would require 4.5 million tonnes of coal. We have sent a team to Australia to look at resources," said Ansari.

Besides, coal and lignite, the company is also looking at renewable energy. The company is planning to set up a 50 Mw wind farm and 10 Mw solar farm in Tamil Nadu.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The oldest power plant in the country Thermal Power Station (TPS) I at Neyveli to be replaced.

• For Turbine and Generators BHEL and Korean company Doosan are in the race, for boilers a consortium led by Ansaldo and Czech-based Vitcovice are in the race.

• The 600 Mw plant currently using Russian equipments. The plant is 50 years old now and operating at 80% plant load factor (PLF).