OPGC to revive 5 mini hydel projects

The Orissa Power Generation Corporation Limited (OPGC), a joint venture between the Orissa government and the AES Corporation, will revive 5 mini hydel projects which are lying unfinished in the state.

The units are 1x325 kw Andharibhangi mini hydel project (Subernapur district), 2x325 kw Badanal Mini Hydel project (Raygada), 2x150 kw Banpur Mini Hydel Project (Khurda), 2x1000 kw Harabhangi mini hydel project (Gajapati) and 2x325 kw Barboria Mini Hydel Projects in Kendarapara district. Though work on these projects had started long time back, they still remain incomplete and the units are yet to be commissioned.

The Andharibhangi mini hydel project is expected to be commissioned in next couple of weeks and the corporation is in talks with some developers on the basis of the standard cost of revival of the remaining units. It may go for open tender for selection of developers if the intended parties do not agree to the standard cost of developing the units which is estimated at Rs 6.5 crore per MW.

Two mini hydel projects namely Biribati mini hydel project (2x325kw) in Cuttack district and Kendupatana Mini Hydel Project (2x250kw) in Kendarapara district functioning under OPGC were commissioned in October 2007.

OPGC has received Rs 337.7 lakhs subsidy from the ministry of non-conventional energy sources, Government of India (GoI), for all the seven projects including the two which have been commissioned.

The power purchase agreement (PPA) with Gridco for the Biribati Mini Hydel Project and Kendupatana Mini Hydel Project is in final stages and is likely to be signed soon, sources added. At present, the power generated from these two units is being supplied to the distribution network through 11 KV transmission lines. About 4 lakh units of power was sold by OPGC to Gridco so far, sources added.

Besides the OPGC’s two running mini hydel units, the Orissa Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) has two such projects at Badaghagara in Keonjhar district (2x20 kw) and Sunei Hydel Project located in Mayurbhanj district (1x110 kw ).

The state government has already signed MoU with private developers for setting up 29 small hydro electric projects (SHEP). It includes 25 Mw middle Kolab Tentuliguma project and 12 Mw lower Kolab project in Koraput district, 20 Mw Samal baraage project, 24.4 mw hydel project at Harabhangi in Gajapati district, 9 mw Baragarh Head Regulator and 9 Mw Salandi Dam Toe project in Keonjhar district among others.

The proposal for the 2x3 Mw Poteru Small Hydro-Electric Project (SHEP) is under the consideration of the Orissa Hydro Power Corporation Limited (OHPC), sources added.