Punjab signs fuel supply pact for two plants

Both plants will use supercritical technology which helps generate more power for the same quantity of coal and reduces pollution

In a step closer to make the state power surplus, the Punjab government signed Fuel Supply Agreements for both Talwandi Sabo Thermal Power Plant (1,980 MW) and Rajpura Thermal Power Plant (1,400 MW).

K D Chaudhri, Chairman cum Managing Director, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited disclosed that the long awaited FSA (Fuel Supply Agreements) between Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, a subsidiary of Sterlite Energy Limited and Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited (MCL) as well  as Nabha Power Limited which is subsidiary of L&T Power  Development Limited and is developing Rajpura Thermal  Power Plant & South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) has been signed.

Chaudhri said that the FSA for Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant has been signed for quantity of 7.72 million tonnes a year,  which will be made available to the plant from Vasundhra Coal Field Mines, Sambalpur, Orissa and FSA for Rajpura Thermal Plant has been signed for 5.5 million tons per year which will be made available from mines at Raigarh, Bilaspur.

Both the plants would use supercritical technology which helps generate more power for the same quantity of coal and helps reduction in pollution. He said that Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant being set up at Village Banawali district Mansa is expected to start generation by end of November this year and Rajpura Thermal Plant being developed at village Nalash near Rajpura is expected to commission first unit in the first week of December this year.

Chaudhri disclosed that all the power generated by these plants would be supplied to PSPCL. Once the power plants start operations, there will be no shortage of power in Punjab and sooner Punjab will be a power surplus state which would help PSPCL to trade power in Energy Exchanges in the country. The industrial sector is going to benefit most. Continuous power supply coupled with the recently announced New Industrial policy will give a boost to the industrial sector and accelerate growth of State.