NLC lines up Rs 10,000 cr

Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) is planning to increase its power generation capacity to 4,290 Mw from the current 2,490 Mw with an outlay of Rs 9,900 crore.

AR Ansari, NLC chairman and managing director, said the company was looking to set up a 2,000 Mw power plant between Tuticorin and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. "We have asked the state government to allocate land for setting up the power plant. We would require around 2,000 acres," he said.

As for NLC's Rajasthan plant, Ansari said, "Phase I with a capacity of 125 Mw will go on stream in June this year, and another 125 Mw in July. We are also planning to add another 500 Mw in Rajasthan."

NLC is also planning to set up wind farms in the districts of Tiruneveli and Theni in Tamil Nadu, with a total capacity of 50 Mw. The first unit is likely to go on stream in October or November this year.

NLC plans to acquire coal mines in Indonesia and South Africa. “We are currently doing the diligence work to acquire 2.5 million tonnes of coal mine resource. The acquisition would cost Rs 400-500 crore,” he added.

For every 1,000 Mw, we require 600 mt of coal, Ansari said, adding that NLC wanted to do all the mine acquisitions on its own.