CEA identifies old power plants with 36,000 MW to be replaced by super critical units

Expects to finalise plan next week for replacing those with generation capacity of 36,000 Mw

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Power projects with total generation capacity of 36,000 MW, which are more than 25 years old, need to be replaced  in a phased manner. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), which recently held a comprehensive review with states, suggested that utilities need to explore possible options to utilise existing land and other facilities in most effective manner in view of land being scare. CEA has  told states that replacement of old units by new super critical units is being encouraged by the Centre and the necessary guidelines have been issued for automatic transfer of coal linkage from old and inefficient units.

CEA has brought to the states' notice that the Centre has proposed capacity addition of 84,600 MW during 13 th plan  (2017-22) through super critical units. The retirement, renovation and replacement of old units by super critical units will also contributed towards proposed capacity addition.

Sources in the know told Business Standard, “Some of the old generation plants have plant load factor (PLF) ranging between as low as one per cent and 14 per cent. States have been asked to soon submit plant-wise plan for retirement, replacement, renovation of such old plants. CEA will hold its next meeting in the third week of September to finalise the action plan.'' CEA believes that replacement of sub critical old and inefficient thermal units by super critical units will enable effective utilisation of already available scarce resources like land, water and coal.

Some of the states including Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have already expedited the replacement process including terms of reference for the environment clearance obtained from the Union ministry of environment and forests.

Haryana for its Panipat unit 1 to 4 (4x110 Mw) has received Union coal ministry's recommendation for the transfer of coal linkages for its replacement by super critical units. Punjab has proposed replacement of Ropar thermal units 1 to 4 (4x210 Mw) with low PLF by new super critical units. Moreover, Rajasthan has undertaken renovation and modernisation of Kota units 1 and 2 (2x110 MW) while it has proposed similar move for units 3&4 (2x210 Mw).

As far as Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MahaGenco) is concerned, it has sent formal proposal to CEA for the transfer of coal linkage from the decommissioned capacity of 840 Mw (at Bhusawal, Parli and Paras) to Koraid units 8&9 of 660 Mw each. Further, MahaGenco will submit retirement proposal for Bhusawal units 2 and 3 (2x210 Mw) to CEA.

In the newly-created Telangana state, the state generation company will submit retirment plan to CEA for Kotha- gudem units 1 to 8 (4x60 Mw plus 4x120 Mw) and Ramagundam unit (1x62.5 Mw).