GMR's Chhattisgarh thermal first unit synchronised

The first 685-MW unit of GMR Chhattisgarh Energy Limited's (GCEL) 1,370-MW supercritical coal-based thermal power plant in Raikheda of Raipur district has successfully achieved synchronisation with the grid last week, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

"GCEL is the GMR Group's first supercritical coal-based thermal power plant. The unit used fuel oil to achieve this first synchronisation Oct 2. The project has been implemented on multiple packages concept by Doosan of Korea. Work on commissioning GCEL's second unit of 685 MW is in progress," the statement added.

Since 2013, the GMR Group has commissioned two coal-based thermal power plants - the 2x300 MW GMR's EMCO Energy Limited in Warora of Maharashtra and three units of the 4x350 MW GMR Kamalanga Energy Limited in Kamlalanga of Odisha.

The GMR Group signed the MoU with the government of Chhattisgarh for the power plant in 2008 and received Environment Clearance and Consent to Establish in 2011. Besides Chhattisgarh, GCEL will cater to the power needs of various states in the country.

G.M. Rao, group chairman of the GMR Group, was quoted in the statement as saying: "The GCEL plant incorporates advanced supercritical technologies that optimise fuel and water usage and support our commitment to environmental sustainability."

"GCEL is also making substantial efforts so the quality of life of individuals residing in neighbouring communities is enriched by its educational, health care, livelihood and grassroots infrastructure development-focused CSR interventions," he said.

GMR Infrastructure Ltd. is a Bangalore-headquartered infrastructure group with interests in airports, energy, highways and urban infrastructure sectors.

It has successfully employed the public-private partnership model to build a portfolio of high quality assets.

The company has 15 power generation assets, of which eight are operational and seven are under various stages of development.