PM Modi to inaugurate 4 thermal power plants in Odisha on Feb 3

PM Modi

Three power plants of NTPC Ltd and one of NLC India Ltd will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 3 in Odisha, the two public sector undertakings said in separate press statements on February 2.

Moneycontrol was the first to break the news on January 29 about PM Modi's plan to launch projects worth nearly Rs 69,000 crore in Odisha in February, of which at least Rs 58,000 crore will be for coal and power projects alone.

Also read: Exclusive: PM Modi likely to launch projects worth Rs 69,000 cr in Odisha next month, bulk in coal & power sector.

As for the NTPC plants, PM Modi is scheduled to dedicate the Darlipali Super Thermal Power Station (2x800 MW) and NSPCL Rourkela PP Expansion Project (1x250 MW) and lay the foundation stone of NTPC's Talcher Thermal Power Project, (2x660 MW) during the visit. The PM will launch NTPC's thermal power projects totalling Rs 28,978 crore, NTPC said in a statement.

The PM will also lay the foundation stone for NLC India's Talabira Thermal Power Project (3 x 800 MW) on the same day. This power plant is significant as it is currently the biggest thermal power plant planned under the Ministry of Coal. The total planned capacity of the Talabira ultra-supercritical thermal power plant is going to be 3,200 MW, under which in phase-I three units of 800 MW each will be commissioned by 2028-29, and in phase-II another 800 MW unit will be operationalised. The execution of phase-I has been awarded to Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), while the tender for the second phase will be done later. The project cost is estimated to be Rs 27,213 crore as of now, according to NLC India.

India has seen spikes in peak demand for electricity in the last two years, even as it has struggled to add renewable energy capacity in line with its goal of 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. India, along with China, were among the countries that were against the complete phasing out of coal at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP, in 2021. Subsequently, the country has taken a stronger stand, and decided to add coal capacity to the tune of 80-87 GW by 2030.

Apart from projects from the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Coal, the PM is also going to launch projects from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of Education (Rs 400 crore) and the postal department.