NTPC aims to start Pakri-Barwadih coal mine this year

State-owned power producer NTPC today said it is targeting to begin production from Pakri-Barwadih coal block in Jharkhand this year and three more blocks in next two years.
"Of the nine mines, Pakri-Barwadih is in advance (stage) and we have a target to begin production from the mine this year," NTPC Chairman & Managing Director A K Jha said during a press conference.
"We are hopeful that in next two years we will start production in another three mines," he said.
In March, NTPC was reallotted five coal blocks that were cancelled last year by the Supreme Court. The five blocks include - Chatti-Bariatu, Chatti-Bariatu (South) and Kerandari in Jharkhand, Dulanga in Odisha and Talaipalli in Chhattisgarh.

Jha further said production in some of these mines will begin after three years as some studies have to be done in these blocks and mining plan has to be prepared.
The company had earlier said that it would soon appoint a mine developer and operator (MDO) for its Pakri-Barwadih coal block. Due to delays, it had cancelled Rs 23,000-crore contract with Thiess Minecs India to develop this block.

NTPC had said that it was also in the process of appointing MDO for developing Kerandari coal block in Jharkhand.
The present installed capacity of the company is 45,548 MW.
It has over 23,000 MW capacity under construction and nearly 9,500 MW is under bidding and the feasibility reports for about 16,600 MW have been approved.