The Hindu Business Line : NTPC exploring setting up of coastal projects in South

Hyderabad April 13 Power major NTPC Ltd is exploring the possibility of setting up coastal projects in South, particularly Tamil Nadu and is seeking to expedite clearances for the long pending 1,950-MW Kayamkulam power plant in Kerala.

The Regional Executive Director (South), NTPC, Mr A.N. Dave, said that NTPC is considering Cheyyur and Ramanathapuram as sites for new projects but no decision has been taken as yet. This is part of the company's ongoing efforts to expand and set up projects across the country.

The company may also consider setting up nuclear plants in South, he said.

Speaking to newspersons here to announce the performance numbers of South, Mr Dave said that the 1950-MW Kayamkulam project, which was estimated to cost about Rs 7,613 crore in 2002, would be taken up and necessary clearances are being sought for the project and fuel supply options are now being evaluated.

Simhadri plant

Referring to the 1,000-MW (2x500) Simhadri plant expansion, Mr Dave said that NTPC has signed up for power supply with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and would shortly enter into an agreement with Kerala for power supply.

The power supply from the Rs 4,444-crore expansion project at Simhadri would be based on "availability based tariff' and will be governed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Authority (CERC) order.

Asked if there was firm supply for Andhra Pradesh, he said that typically a third of what was generated by NTPC in the region was supplied to the State and the Simhadri expansion would be no exception. The Simhadri expansion, which would be backed by fuel supply from Talcher, is expected to be completed by 2010-2011. Imported coal, as is the case now, would be a fall back option.

The southern region has installed capacity of 3,960 MW at Ramagundam, Simhadri and Kayamkulam, and also manages the supply of about 2,000 MW of power from NTPC Talcher project and supplies to South even though it actually does not come under its direct jurisdiction.

Asked about developing the Pranahitha hydel project in the State, Mr Dave said that this was being handled by the hydel project arm of the company.

PERFORMANCE

During the year 2006-07, NTPC southern region achieved a total generation of 29,453 million units as against 27,792 mu during 2005-06. Significantly, the southern region achieved 100 per cent realisation of revenues during the financial year and there were no outstanding dues.

The performance would have been much better but for the backing down due to grid restrictions.

All the three southern projects of at Ramagundam, Simhadri and Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power project at Kayamkulam have performed at peak level registering high plant load factor. In fact, Ramagundam unit and Simhadri units were rated 10th and 4th respectively in terms of units in NTPC based on PLF. The Kayamkulam unit is performing at a PLF of about 78 per cent.