NTPC to add 30 GW coal-fired power by FY32

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India’s biggest power generation company NTPC Ltd plans to increase the capacity of its thermal power plants by 30 gigawatts by 2031-32 to meet the country’s growing energy demand, according to a senior executive of the company.

The current combined capacity of the Maharatna public sector undertaking (PSU) is 77 GW and it contributes one-fourth of India’s power requirements. Till FY32, the Union government plans to install at least 90 GW of additional coal-fired power plants, of which NTPC alone will build 33 percent.

The country’s peak power demand is expected to touch 366 GW in 2031-32, for which the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has estimated that a capacity of at least 900 GW would be required, against 470.45 GW currently. India’s peak power demand last year was 250 GW and is expected to be around 270 GW this summer.

In order to meet this growing demand, the country needs to have affordable electricity which is not entirely possible with renewable energy as it needs energy storage solutions which increases the cost of power. Hence, India plans to continue to rely on coal-fired electricity until clean energy offers grid stability and affordability.

“NTPC being the biggest power generation utility in India will build 30 GW of additional coal-fired power plants to meet the country’s demand by FY32. These will be brownfield projects, which implies expansion of our existing power plants. We have ample land and space for the same,” the executive said adding that had earlier planned to add 26 GW, but other 4 GW was added on the direction of the Union government.

In FY25, the company awarded works totalling 8 GW of thermal capacity and it plans to award a similar quantum in FY26. The executive said thermal power plants are in a good position this year to meet the summer demand as coal stocks are adequate.

Coal production target of 50 MT

The Maharatna public sector undertaking has set a target of producing 50 million ton (MT) of coal through its mines.

During FY25, NTPC Mining produced 45.72 MT of coal from its five operational captive coal mines namely Pakri Barwadih, Kerandari, Chatti Bariatu located in Jharkhand, Dulanga in Odisha and Talaipalli in Chhattisgarh and Amelia of THDC, ensuring fuel security for its own thermal power stations.