The Hindu Business Line : NTPC kicks off work on India’s largest hydel project

New Delhi, Aug. 14 NTPC is planning a big push to its renewable energy foray with a 4,000-MW hydel project – billed as the country’s largest – on the anvil.

The company’s proposed Etalin hydro project in Arunachal Pradesh, to be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 14,069 crore, would entail the construction of sixteen 250 MW units.

NTPC, which is carrying out necessary survey and investigations work for the project at the site, is looking to complete the detailed project report preparation by June 2009, company officials said.

The 1,500-MW Nathpa Jhakri project is currently the country’s largest hydel project.

The Etalin project, NTPC’s first in the eastern region, is the result of a conscious attempt by the utility to diversify its fuel base and focus on renewable energy in a big way.

It is already in the process of implementing three hydel projects in the northern region – the 800-MW Koldam project in Himachal Pradesh and the 600-MW Loharinag Pala and 520-MW Tapovan Vishnugad projects in Uttarakhand.

Besides the Etalin project, NTPC is planning a 500-MW project in Arunachal Pradesh.

NTPC currently has an installed capacity of 27,404 MW, entirely through coal-fired and gas-based stations.

To put the proposed Etalin hydro project’s size in perspective, it may be mentioned that the project would only be marginally lower in size that the current installed capacity of all of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation’s (NHPC) 12 stations put together.

(NHPC, the country’s largest hydroelectric power generator, has a total capacity of 4,145 MW.)

The size of the project, however, pales in comparison with China’s Three Gorges project and Brazil’s Itaipu project, the largest hydel projects in the world.

“While we have developed a core competence in execution of thermal projects, NTPC is moving towards becoming an integrated energy utility with a diversified fuel mix,” an NTPC official said.

“We are also eyeing other emerging areas, including nuclear, wind and geothermal energy.”

Of the three hydel projects under construction, the Koldam project would be commissioned in 2008-09.

The Loharinag Pala and Tapovan Vishnugad projects are to be commissioned by 2010, officials said. Earlier last month, NTPC had signed a MoU with the Asian Development Bank to set up a joint venture firm for wind power and mini- and micro-hydel projects.

The country’s economically exploitable hydel potential, estimated at 1,48,700 MW, stands fifth globally and is proving to be a big draw among private and State-owned players.

Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd and its sister concern Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam are among those with plans to enter the hydel business.

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