State-owned NLC India conducts boiler light-up test for NNTPP's first unit

This power project will replace the existing five-decade-old TPS-I (600MW) at Neyveli, according to Rakesh Kumar, CMD of NLC India

State-owned NLC India said it had achieved a critical milestone towards commissioning the 1,000-Mw Neyveli New Thermal Power Project (NNTPP) by successfully conducting the boiler light-up test for the first unit with secondary fuel.

This is the first 500-Mw lignite-fired power plant in the country, which can generate 1 million units of power in one hour, according to the company.

This power project will replace the existing, more than five decades old, TPS-I (600MW) at Neyveli, said Rakesh Kumar, CMD of NLC India.

The time for boiler hydro test and light up was scheduled for 6 months, but with the vigorous efforts, Unit-I boiler hydro test was completed on December 22, 2018, and boiler light-up successfully conducted on Friday - within a span of 4 months against a target of 6 months which itself is a big milestone.

NLC India CMD Rakesh Kumar lighted up the boiler in the presence of functional directors Thangapandian, R Vikraman, Prabhakar Chowki and senior officials and executives of NNTPP.

To meet India's needs in the energy sector, the organization is now set to deliver a thermal project, capable of providing sustainable power. 

The power purchase agreement was signed with Electricity Boards of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry states. 

Five per cent of the power generated will be supplied to TANGEDCO of Tamilnadu, said Kumar.