Patnaik inaugurates two power generation units of OPGC

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday inagurated the third and fourth units of the state-owned Odisha Power Generation's (OPGC) Ib Thermal Power Station at Banharpali in Jharsuguda district.

The chief minister also inaugurated a coal mine at Manoharpur in Sundargarh district through video conference.

The coal mines at Manoharpur will feed coal to the two new power units of the ITPS.

"Once commissioned, these two thermal units, built at an investment of Rs 15,000 crore, will provide additional 1,320 MW electricity to the state for the next 25 years," Patnaik said.

"Odisha has created a history in power generation. Every household in all villages across the state have access to electricity," he said.

The state government also plans to construct a new railway line transport raw materials from the Manoharpur coal mines to OPGC, Patnaik said.

The Manoharpur Coal Mines will supply 8 MT coal to the ITPS annually.

The state government owns the Odisha Coal and Power Limited (OCPL) mines at Manoharpur and dip-side Manoharpur, sources said.

While the third and fourth units of ITPS together will generate 1,320 MW electricity, its first and second units have installed capacity of 210 MW each.

On February 23, 2014, Patnaik had laid the foundation for the third and fourth units.