NTPC to take power generation capacity to 36k MW by March

Country's largest power producer NTPC is expected to raise generation capacity to 36,000 MW by March with the commissioning of two more 660 MW units at Sipat power project.

"The first 660 MW unit has been commissioned and would start selling power from next month. The other two units will be commissioned by March, 2012," a company official said.

The 1,980 MW Sipat power project is company's first supercritical plant, which means it is 2% more efficient as compared to other thermal plants.

NTPC generates over 34,000 MW electricity with 15 coal- based and 7 gas-based power stations, besides 6 joint venture or subsidiary power projects across the country.

It has set an ambitious target of taking overall power generation to 75,000 MW by 2017.

The company is working on projects of about 40,000 MW at present. Projects with capacity of over 14,000 MW are under various stages of implementation.

NTPC has mobilised loans worth Rs 10,000 crore with the State Bank of India this fiscal (2011-12). It has also tied-up foreign loans of USD 300 million this year with the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, Singapore.

NTPC added capacity of about 2,500 MW during 2010-11 by commissioning Dadri (490 MW), Korba (500 MW), Farakka (500 MW), Simhadri (500 MW) and Jhajjar (500 MW) units.

It recently finalised an agreement with the Ceylon Electricity Board (Sri Lanka) for setting up a 500 MW power station at Trincomalee in the island nation.

NTPC will have a capacity of 500 MW with two generating units of 250 MW each. The capacity may be enhance by another 500 MW.

A 50:50 joint venture company would be incorporated in Sri Lanka by NTPC and CEB for setting up the project. Land for the project would be provided by the Sri Lankan government to the JV company on long term lease.