Odisha seeks to surrender 1,514 Mw allocation from NTPC plants

New capacity from IPPs, 4,000 Mw UMPP at Bhedabahal, state thermal power plants are set to make it a power-surplus state

On the verge of becoming a state with huge power surplus, Odisha has sought to surrender share of allocated power of the order of 1,514 Mw from NTPC stations located outside the state.

Capacity additions from independent power producers (IPPs), the upcoming 4000 Mw ultra mega power project (UMPP) at Bhedabahal (Sundargarh) and the state sector thermal power plants would contribute to the growth in power generation.

"Power procurement from new NTPC stations outside Odisha would cost the state around Rs seven per unit, against the cost of Rs 3.5-4 per unit sourced from the IPPs. We have moved the Union government to surrender costly power from NTPC stations. This would also benefit states facing deficit power and de-congest inter-state long term open access", said an official source.

The state government has sought de-allocation from NTPC's super thermal power stations at Barh- Stage I & II (Bihar), Katwa (West Bengal), Pirpanthi (Bihar), Kanti (Bihar), Nabinagar (Bihar) and NTPC-SAIL Power Company Ltd- NSPCL (Jharkhand).

By 2012-22, Odisha is tipped to see capacity augmentation of 22,470 Mw from various sources of which 8,552 Mw would be the state's share.

Peak power demand in Odisha is projected to touch 5,641 Mw by 2018-19, up from the current level of 4,200 Mw. The growth in energy demand is slated to be the most in 2015-19, pegged to grow at 9.86 per cent. This is more than double the growth of 4.11 per cent that the state logged during 2010-15. Energy demand is poised to go up from 23,555 million units (MU) to 32,847 MU by 2018-19. As of now, Odisha is encountering a peak power deficit of 300-350 Mw. The state is plugging the deficit by procuring power from Punjab, Delhi and Arunachal Pradesh via the power banking mode.

In the state's power purchase mix, thermal power, including power procured from independent power producers (IPPs) accounts of 67 per cent with the state's own hydro power contributing 23 per cent. Central hydro stations have a share of three per cent, renewable energy three per cent and captive generating plants five per cent.