The Hindu Business Line : Bhilai Electric Supply to set up new plants

The Bhilai-based 50:50 joint venture power company between Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and NTPC Ltd is setting up a fresh capacity of 2x250 MW by 2007-08.

Bhilai Electric Supply Company Pvt Ltd (BESCL), the joint venture company set up in March 2002, is currently producing only 74 MW of power. The proposed new plants would be located nearby Bhilai Steel Plant refractory material plant.

The total cost of the project has been estimated to be around Rs 2,600 crore. All necessary statutory clearances has been already been obtained. BHEL would be building the whole plant. A total of 766 acres of land has already been identified for the project.

Out of it, 545 acres is earmarked for the power plant and its associated facilities. Approximately 221 acres would be utilised for ash disposal.

"Apart form this, around 50 acres of land has been identified within the steel plant's township for construction of houses for the BESCL employees. All the amenities of the BSP township would be shared by BESCL township residents," sources said.

Out of the total production of 500 MW, Bhilai Steel Plant would be consuming 280 MW. The Chhattisgarh Government would be buying 50 MW. Daman & Diu would be getting 70 MW and the rest 100 MW would be sold to Dadar & Nagar Haveli.

The proposed power plant would require 2.7 million tonnes per annum of coal. BESCL has already entered into long-term agreement with SECL and it would be supplied from Chhal and Barud block of the Raigarh coal fields.

Apart from the main power plant, there would be a coal handling plant, raw water system, ash dyke, rail lines for coal and fuel transportation, a 400/220 KV switch yard and associated transmission systems.

The plan prepared for the new power plants have separate plans for controlling air pollution, water pollution and solid waste management. On account of environmental cost, a provision of Rs 191.28 crore has been made too.

Apart from BESCL, SAIL and NTPC has another 50:50 joint venture company. It is called NTPC SAIL Power Company Pvt Ltd. It was set up in March 2001. It operates and manages the captive power plants at Durgapur and Rourkela Steel Plants and the combined capacity is 240 MW.

Both SAIL and NTPC has been contemplating to merge these two companies and create a single entity because both operate in the same sector and the management is common to both these companies.