The Kerala government proposed to set up the state's first Petcoke (Petroleum coke)-based power plant using the fuel produced from Kochi Refinery's Integrated Refinery Expansion Project near here.
The IREP, expected to be completed by May 2016, will yield approximately 1.4 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of petcoke, which can be used to produce around 500-600 MW of power.
Petcoke is a high calorific value solid fuel and is extensively used for power generation in various countries.
INKEL, Kerala's PPP model infrastructure development company, which undertook the feasibility study for the project in March, 2014, had submitted a comprehensive report, which endorsed the implementation of the project.
"...This can be one of the best infrastructure projects initiated by the state government," said T Balakrishnan, Managing Director, INKEL, adding that it can be a key contributor to Kerala's economic development.
The state government has approved the proposal, in principle.
About 150-acre land parcel has been identified for the project at Irumpanam, adjacent to the BPCL expansion project, and it would be acquired by Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), officials said.
