Thermal power generation in Tamil Nadu could increase by nearly five times by 2015 from some of the major ongoing and expansion projects. This will provide a major relief to the State, which is facing severe shortage of power.
To meet the increased power generation, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has asked the Ennore Port Ltd to increase its coal handling for the board to nearly 35 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by 2015 from the present 9.5 mtpa.
The additional capacity is to feed coal for the North Chennai Thermal Power Project, the Mettur Thermal Power Station and Vallur plant operated by NTPC, said a senior EPL official.
The board has said that by 2015, power generation from these projects would be 8,940 MW from the present 1,920 MW, Senthil Kumar, General Manager, Operations, EPL.
The present coal handling capacity at Ennore port for TNEB’s existing plants is 9.5 mtpa. The ongoing projects that are expected to be completed by the year end could require an additional handling of 15 mtpa and the future projects will require a addition of 12 mtpa, he told Business Line .
Ennore Port Ltd was developed to receive coal for thermal power stations of TNEB. Two years ago, the port benefited a lot due to diversion of coal from Chennai due to a High Court Order. The port built two berths for TNEB and plans to build another at a cost of around Rs 150 crore, he said.