Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Status of Ultra Mega Power Projects

The concept of Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) was taken up in 2005 by Ministry of Power. Initially 9 projects were proposed out of which 4 were pit-head projects based on indigenous coal and 5 were coastal projects based on imported coal. Later some more projects are taken up.

Four Projects namely, Sasan in Madhya Pradesh, Mundra in Gujarat, Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Tilaiya in Jharkhand have already been awarded and transferred to the identified bidders and the projects are at different stages of implementation. As per the latest information provided by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), first unit of 800 MW of Mundra UMPP is expected in February, 2012. Erection of boiler and power house building in respect of units 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Sasan UMPP have been started. The boiler foundation for unit 5 has been completed and is in progress for unit 6. The first unit is expected in January, 2013. As per revised Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the first unit of Krishnapatnam is expected in June 2013. As per PPA, the first unit of Tilaiya UMPP is expected in May, 2015.

The Requests for Qualification (RfQ) for selection of developer for Sarguja UMPP in Chhattisgarh and Bedabahal UMPP in Orissa have been issued on 15.03.2010 and 11.06.2010 respectively. RfQ bids for Orissa UMPP was opened on 1st August 2011 and are under evaluation. The date of submission of RfQ for Chhattisgarh UMPP is being extended from time to time as Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has categorized coal blocks of this UMPP in “No Go” area. The UMPPs in the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and additional UMPPs in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu are contingent upon the availability of various requisite clearances including land and water availability from the State Governments/ Ministries.

List of various UMPPs along with the details of location and their status is given below:-

UMPP                                    Location                                                     Status

Sasan                      Sasan in district Singrauli, Madhya Pradesh                   Awarded

Mundra                  village Tundawand in district Kutch, Gujarat                    Awarded

Krishnapatnam     Krishnapatnam in district Nellore, Andhra Pradesh           Awarded

Tilaiya                         Near Tilaiya village , Jharkhand                                   Awarded

Bedabahal UMPP  Near Bedabahal in Sundergarh district, Orissa                  Bidding

Chhattisgarh                  Near Salka&Khameria , Chhattisgarh                        Bidding

Tamil Nadu   Village Cheyyur, District Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu                Pre-RfQ

2nd  UMPP  Village Nayunipalli, District Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh              Pre-RfQ

1st and 2nd additional
UMPPs in Orissa                           Not yet finalised                                               --

2nd Gujarat UMPP                       Not yet finalised  
Tamil Nadu UMPP                        Not yet finalised                                               --

2nd Jharkhand UMPP                    Not yet finalised                                               --

Karnataka                                      Not yet finalised                                               --

Maharashtra                                   Not yet finalised                                              --

The problems being faced in this initiative are non-finalisation of sites due to local agitation, non-availability of water at pithead sites, forest related issues particularly categorisation of Go/ No-Go area, delay in environment and forest clearances etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Power Shri K. C. Venugopal in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

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