NTPC to invest Rs 24,000 cr in Andhra thermal power plant

Country's largest power producer NTPC is looking at an investment of Rs 24,000 crore for constructing a 4,000-MW thermal power plant in Andhra Pradesh, a company official said.

"This is a 4,000 MW (5x800 MW) power project proposed at Pudimadaka near Anakapalli in Atchutapuram Mandal, Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh," the official told PTI.

Pudimadaka is among the basket of projects planned for the 13th Plan period (2017-22) but the company can consider taking it up earlier if the land and coal linkage is fast tracked, he added.

The feasibility report for the proposed project is under preparation, he said, adding that the land availability and coal linkage would be facilitated by the state government.

NTPC would incur a cost of around Rs 24,000 crore for building this plant, as an investment of about Rs 6 crore is required for every megawatt generation, he said.

The electricity generated from this project would be consumed by the home state as well as the neighbouring state of Karnataka. The company would sign the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with the respective states for the same.

Since the project is located close to Vishakhapatnam, sea water can be utilised for Cooling Water system.

Meanwhile, the company would soon float the tender inviting bids to supply equipment for its five super-critical power projects at Solapur, Mouda (Maharashtra), Meja (Uttar Pradesh) and Nabinagar (Bihar).

These projects are due to come up in the 12th Plan period (2012-17).

At present, NTPC operates plants with over 36,000-MW capacity, from all sources of energy. It has 15 coal-based, seven gas-based and six joint venture power stations.

The company plans to take this capacity close to 70,000 MW by March 2017.