Neyveli Lignite to set up 600-Mw solar power capacity

The company has been looking at renewable sources such as solar and wind

Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), a public sector lignite mining and power generating company, will set up units to produce 600 mega watt (Mw) solar power. The company, which has been using lignite as the fuel for its power units, has been looking at renewable sources such as solar and wind. Besides, coal was also being considered as one of the options of fuel, according to officials. Thus, the company plans to take the total power generation capacity to 12,221 Mw from the current 2,740 Mw.

Chairman and Managing Director B Surender Mohan said the company is in the process of setting up smaller solar projects of 10-15 Mw capacity in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan with a total capacity of 50 Mw.

“In addition to these solar projects, we propose to install a 100-Mw solar project at Neyveli, for which identification of suitable land is under progress,” said Mohan.

According to him, the company held talks with Tamil Nadu and other states for setting up higher capacity solar projects. These projects will be implemented after carrying out techno-economic viability studies and getting land.

Mohan said after he took over his priority was to expedite the delayed projects of the company —  2x250-Mw TPS-II Expansion Project at Neyveli and its maiden coal-based 2x500-Mw joint venture power project, NTPL, at Tuticorin. Now, both these units have received commercial operation declaration (COD).

In 2014-15, the company recorded a turnover of Rs 6,087 crore as against Rs 5,967 crore in 2013-14. It posted a profit of Rs 1,579 crore in 2014-15 as against Rs 1,501 crore, a year ago. Besides, the company proposes to increase its annual lignite production to 49.50 million tonnes.

Mohan said the NTPL project will be commissioned during October 2017-April 2018.

He said with regard to the 51-Mw wind power project, being implemented at Tirunelvei, of the 34 wind turbines each of 1.5 Mw, nine have been commissioned. Erection of 10-Mw solar project at Neyveli is progressing and it is expected to be commissioned soon.

For the 3x660-Mw coal-based Ghatampur Power Project of Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change has accorded clearance.

The company expects the Tamil Nadu government will give administrative sanction for land acquisition for the 4,000-Mw coal-based Sirkali Thermal Power project.

For the development of Pachwara-South coal block at Jharkhand as the fuel linkage to the proposed 3x660 Mw Ghatampur Power Project, global tender has been floated. With regard to the Jilga-Barpali coal block development for fuel linkage to the proposed Sirkali Thermal Power project, the company has requested the ministry of coal to allot a suitable coal block, as the coal block is not suitable owing to adverse geo-mining conditions.

The company has also requested the ministry to consider the Mahanadi & Machakatta coal block for allotment, so that requirement of coal for NTPL and NUPPL can be met.