Ten IPPs face stern warning

Power projects go under scanner again

Independent Power Producers (IPPs) who have proposed to set up coal-fired power plants in Orissa are set to go under the scanner yet again as the state energy department will conduct a review soon to weed out non-serious players.

Industry sources said, there are 8-10 frivolous players who have not made any substantial headway on their projects despite repeated reminders by the department and the department will take a stern view on these players during the review slated for June 9.

"We are going to review the status of IPPs very soon. While there are IPPs that have made good headway on their projects, quite a few are non-serious and we are going to give them a stern warning during the review”, a top official source told Business Standard.

He declined to divulge names of the non-serious players. As many as 30 IPPs have signed MoUs with the state government in the past five years with a combined power generation capacity of around 38,000 MW of which the state's share is 6,774 MW.

Of the 30 IPPs, the energy department has already scrapped the MoU with Essar Power.

As on date, Sterlite Industries has commissioned the first unit (600 MW) of its 2,400 MW IPP at Burkhamunda near Jharsuguda and is also supplying the entire generated power to the state grid.

The state energy department expected five more IPPs to commission their projects by the end of 2012. These IPPs include GMR Kamalanga Energy Ltd (1,400 MW), Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd (JITPL)-1,200 MW, Monnet Power Company Ltd (1,050 MW) and Maa Durga Thermal Power (60 MW).

Monnet Ispat Power Company Limited is almost through with the land acquisition work for its 1,000 MW power project proposed to be set up at the Malibrahmani-Nisha-Chendipada stretch in Angul district on 993.42 acres of land.

Similarly, Jindal India Thermal Power Plant (JITPL) has acquired 95 per cent of the land needed for its project and has also constructed the boundary wall which is 98 per cent complete. JITPL had proposed to set up a 1,200 MW power plant at Derang near Talcher on 1055 acres of land. The company has been allotted the Mandakini coal block with a reserve of 96.84 million tonnes of coal.

GMR Kamalanga Energy Ltd has taken possession of 999.795 acres out of a total land requirement of 113.17 acres for its 1,050 MW power projects proposed to be set up at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal district. The company has been allocated the Rampia Dip side coal block and also allotted 30 cusecs of water from the Brahmani river. The power plant is scheduled for commissioning by February 2012.

The IPPs have already invested Rs 12,375.09 crore on their proposed projects in the state.

Among the IPPs who have made significant investments are Sterlite Energy Ltd (Rs 7,400 crore) Ind Barath Energy (Utkal) Ltd (Rs 1,200 crore), GMR Kamalanga Energy Ltd (Rs 1,145.83 crore), Jindal India Thermal Power Ltd (Rs 641.58 crore), Lanco Babandh Power Ltd (Rs 873.12 crore) and Monnet Power Company Ltd (Rs 570 crore)