Orissa draws up policy guidelines for power units

To modify MoUs signed with 13 independent power producers (IPPs), the Orissa government today framed policy guidelines for establishment of ultra mega power plants and units by CPSUs like NTPC.     

The decision in this regard was approved at the state cabinet meeting here.     

''It decided to delete a clause in the existing MoU which stated that power generated in excess of 80 per cent of the plant load factor(PLF) from the plant will be made available to the state at variable cost plus incentive,'' Chief Secretary Ajit Tripathy told reporters after the meeting.     

Instead, the government had decided to take 7 per cent of power at the variable cost from the IPPs which got coal block or coal linkage.     

IPPs which did not get coal linkage or block would have to give 5 per cent of power to the state at variable cost determined by Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC), he said.     

While deleting the clause which had made it mandatory to give excess of 80 per cent of the PLF in earlier MoUs, the state government would hence forth sign MoUs with IPPs on condition that a nominated agency/agencies authorised by the state will have the right to purchase power at variable cost.     

While the IPPs which got coal linkage or block would give 14 per cent of the total power generated by them to the state authorised agency, the companies without having coal linkage had to give 5 per cent of power at variable cost as determined by OERC, he said.