The Union Ministry of Coal has allocated the Sarapal-Nuapara coal block in Talcher Coalfields of Odisha to AP Genco.

This will be a big boost for power generation in the State. According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, the geographical reserve of this coal block is estimated to be about 701 million tonnes.

This allocation is in addition to the existing reserves to produce another 4,000 MW power for the next 30 years.

AP Genco had applied for coal blocks in response to the notification issued by the Ministry of Coal, Government of India in December 2012.

The coal from this block can meet the requirement of coal of 4,000 MW for 30 years. AP Genco has got the third highest coal reserves in this allocation in the country besides NTPC with reserves of 1,995 mt and Odisha Thermal Power Corporation Ltd with reserves of 1,234 mt. State-owned AP Genco was earlier allotted Tadicherla-I coal block in Karimnagar district. The block having 45 mt of reserves was allotted by the Ministry of Coal to meet the requirement of Kakatiya Thermal Power Project Stage-II of 600 MW capacity.

Singareni Collieries Company Ltd has been nominated as mine developer cum operator. Development of this coal block is in progress.

The Ministry of Coal has allocated 14 coal blocks to the power sector. Of the 318 applications received by the Ministry of Coal, 276 were found to be complete in all respects. Of these, 235 applications pertained to 14 coal blocks for power. Around 15 States and 6 Central PSUs have been allocated coal blocks.

rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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