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NTPC’s grandiose plans for the South
Projects totalling 13,360 MWunder construction
The NTPC (formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation), a 32-year-old
power utility, is focusing all its attention in realising its goal of having
50,000 megawatt (MW) by 2012.
"As on date, the installed capacity of NTPC is 27,904 MW. Capacity aggregating
13,360 MW is under construction at 11 different locations. For another
8,000 MWplus capacity,we intend to finalise the orders within this year.With
this action pla n in hand, we are well on course to achieve our target,”T.
Sankaralingam, Chairman and Managing Director of the company, says in an e-mail
interview. Apart from thermal power projects, the utility is implementing three
hydro power projects.
During this financial year, the company’s target is to add a capacity of 2,500
MW, of which 500 MW has already been added at Sipat in Chhattisgarh. It has
proposed to add 1,000 MW through the Kahalgaon Stage-II project in Bihar and
another 500 MW in Sipat. In Bhilai (Chattisgarh), one 500 MW unit has been
proposed as part of the expansion of a joint venture plant.
On the organisation’s plans for the southern region, the utility has accorded
investment proposal for two more projects in the southern region — 1,000 MW
expansion at Simhadri, Andhra Prdesh and another 1,000 MW at Ennore,Tamil
Nadu.While the NTPC is implementing the Simhadri expansion project, it is
executing the Ennore project through a special purpose vehicle floated by the
NTPC and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. In addition, there are plans to
expand the Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power plant at Kayamkulam in Kerala by
1950 MW, as soon as the NTPC is able to tie up gas supplies. At present, the
NTPC is running three stations at Ramagundam, Simhadri and Kayamkulam with a
total capacity of 3,950 MW in the southern region. Besides, a 1,800 MW plant at
Talcher-II (Orissa) in the eastern region is exclusively dedicated to the
southern states. Further, 155 MW has been allocated to the region
from the unallocated portion of eastern region stations.
Coal requirements
The company has planned to meet nearly one-fourth of its coal requirement
from its own production (around 50 million tonnes) in 10 years. It has been
allocated seven mining blocks including two blocks to be developed in joint
venture with Coal India. As regards the first mining block, Pakri Barwadih,
allocated to the NTPC, it has completed all the preparatory works. It is
awaiting the environment clearance from the Union Environment and Forests
Ministry and approval for land acquisition under Coal BearingAreas (CBA) Act
from the Coal Ministry. “Once we receive these clearances,we shall be able to
start acquiring land and commence production of coal within six months,” the CMD
says.
Under an MOU signed with the Nigerian Government in May 2007, Nigeria is to
supply at least three million tonnes of liquefied natural gas per annum, on a
long term basis for a period of 25 years, to be used by the company in its power
stations in India and, in return, NTPC has agreed to set up a 700 MWgas-based
power station and a 500 MW coal-fired power station in Nigeria.
BHEL and NTPC in JV for Power Firm
NTPC’s grandiose plans for the South Projects totalling 13,360 MWunder
construction NATIONAL THERMAL Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bharat Heavy
Electricials Ltd (BHEL) on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to form a
50:50 joint venture company for engineering, procurement and construction
activities in the power sector. The proposed company will jointly bid for green
field power projects. "The synergy will be mutually beneficial to both
organisation s as we have a vast resource pool and expertise in our respective
areas," an NTPC official said.
The post of the chairman and managing director of the proposed company would be
rotated amongst senior executives of both companies.The new venture would have
executives from both companies, the official said. NTPC has an operating
capacity of 27,900 mega watt (MW) and is looking to expand its business
activities. It houses around 20 per cent of the country's installed capacity and
contributes 29 per cent to power generation.NTPC plans to become a 75,000
MW-plus company by 2017, the official said. According to the official, BHEL's
expertise in areas of energy related infrastructure and its experience in
manufacturing power plant equipment will help the proposed joint venture company
.
Power Finance Corporation Ltd
Power Finance Corporation Ltd (PFC) has transferred Sasan Power Ltd. to the
selected bidder namely, Reliance Power Ltd.on 7thAugust, 2007.The Power
PurchaseAgreement, Escrow and HypothecationAgreements were signed and the
transfer documents were formally exchanged in the presence of Hon’ble Union
Minister of Power Shri Sushilkumar Shinde on 7th August, 2007. The ‘Letter of
Intent’ (LoI) for this Project was issued to M/s. Reliance Power Ltd. on 1st
August, 2007.
NHPC Pays Highest Ever
Dividend of Rs. 278 Crore
National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd. (NHPC) has paid the highest ever
dividend of Rs. 278 crore to the Govt. of India for the financial year 2006-
07. The Corporation has already paid an interim dividend amount of Rs. 72 crore
to the Govt.of India in December 2006.A cheque for the balance amount of
Rs. 206 crore was presented to Shri Sushilkumar Shinde, Hon’ble Union Minister
of Power by Shri S. K. Garg, CMD, NHPC on 14th August 2007 in the
presence of ShriAnil Razdan, Secretary (Power), senior officials of Ministry of
Power and NHPC. During the year 2006-07,Corporation has registered a
net profit of Rs. 924.80 crore as compared to Rs. 742.75 crore during
2005-06.During the financial year 2005-06 NHPC had paid a dividend of Rs. 223
crore while during the financial year 2004-05 NHPC had paid a dividend of Rs 140
crore to the Govt. of India.
Suzlon crosses new milestone in European market
Suzlon crossed a new milestone in Europe, the world’s largest and most
competitive wind market. The company completed the commissioning of six
turbines,
and the mechanical erection of an additional of nine turbines installed at its
Penamacor projects. The projects cover 39,9 MWof wind turbine capacity with
TECNEIRA - Tecnologias Energéticas, SA for two windfarm projects in the
Penamacor region of Portugal. The orders are supplied with Suzlon’s largest
product the S88-2.1 MWwind turbine. Portugal is a market with significant wind
power growth potential.The country has a stable and attractive incentive scheme
in place and there is strong support for renewable energy sources, particularly
wind. Portugal showed significant growth, crossing 1,819 MW in cumulative
capacity in 31st March 2007. The EU’s Renewables Directive and Portugal’s
reliance on fossil fuel imports are major drivers for growth. Furthermore, there
are plans for significant grid expansion which when complete should provide for
considerable capacity addition on a yearly basis. Forecasts point to Portugal
achieving 4,687 MW in cumulative capacity by 2010.Tecneira - Tecnologias
Energéticas, SA, is 100% owned by PROCME, a Holding of CME Group of Companies
which develop their activity, in an integrated manner, in the investment,
business promotion, engineering, construction, maintenance and operation areas
within the substructures and entrepreneurial sectors,with businesses in the
electrical installations, civil construction and energy production (windfarms)
sectors. The main company within the Group is CME, S.A, established in 1983.With
over 1.000 employees and a turnover of about Euro 230 million, it is involved in
practically every area of integrated services with an high technology component.
Rare Distinction for India in the field of Nuclear Power
Dr. Shreyans. Kumar Jain, Chairman and Managing Director,Nuclear Power
Corporation of India Limited and BHAVINI has been elected the President of the
World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) during its 10th Biennial General
Meeting held at Chicago, USA during September 23-25, 2007. Dr. Jain will hold
the post of President,WANO till January 2010 when the next biennial general
meeting is held in New Delhi, India. Dr Jain has made significant contributions
to all the facets of the development of nuclear power programme in India. It is
for the first time that an Indian has been elected to this prestigious position.
This honour is a recognition of NPCIL’s constant efforts to improve the
Performance of its power plants and also its emergence as a utility with
substantial growth plans.
WANO is a non-profit and non-governmental world body with a mission to maximize
the safety and reliability of the operation of nuclear power plants by
exchanging information and encouraging communication, comparison and emulation
amongst its members.All the nuclear power utilities world over are
members of WANO. India, incidentally, is a founder member of this world body.
India also achieved yet another world class distinction with Shri G. Nageswara
Rao, Director (Operations), NPCIL being awarded the “WANO Nuclear Excellence
Award, 2007” for his significant contribution in enhancing nuclear safety and
for facilitating improvements in Performance Indicators of the
Nuclear Power plants in India. Shri Rao received the prestigious award at the
concluding function of Biennial Meeting ofWANO at Chicago on September 25, 2007.
NPCIL has volunteered to host international review of all its power plants with
an intention of raising its standards in all facets of its functioning. It has
also
rendered support for benchmarking of various other plants around the world. This
Government owned company is unique in having a comprehensive capability
in all facets of nuclear technology, namely, design, construction,
commissioning, operation, maintenance and life extension of nuclear power
plants.
(A. I. Siddiqui)
Middle Eastern Power
While parts of the Middle East are racked with turmoil, other areas are peaceful
and inviting. Private interests are becoming major suppliers and building new
power related facilities. Though incremental, the openness is essential if
countries there are to meet their expected future need for electricity.
"To support the region's dynamic growth, the Middle East urgently needs to
increase its power and water capacity," says JosephAnis,GE Energy's region
executive for the Middle East. He adds that GE already has a strong presence in
the region, noting that Saudi Arabia has committed to buy gas turbines so that
it can add 6.3 gigawatts of power there at a cost of nearly $2 billion. GE
Energy, for example, has received contracts totaling more than $1.8 billion to
supply 32 gas turbines and additional equipment for power plant projects in
Kuwait and Qatar.All told, five gigawatts of capacity will be added to help meet
demand.
The major components will be supplied by GE. Construction on one of the
facilities will be done by Spain's Iberdrola. However, the facilities will still
be
owned and operated by the respective governments. Prior to 1970, it was common
to have foreign interests throughout the region. But the host countries had
perceived inequities, giving them additional incentives to nationalize
industries. Now, with the population of both the Middle East and North Africa
predicted to hit 600 million by 2025, they need to take action to attract
private investment. Some experts say, however, that any rapid evolution could
lead to social chaos, although all acknowledge that reforms are necessary.
According to theWorld Bank, high economic growth in the area has been
accompanied by strong job
creation and declining unemployment in recent years. But for this performance to
be sustainable it needs to be supported by deeper structural reforms.
Gross domestic product reached 6.3 percent for the region in 2006.That's up from
an average of 3.6 percent a year during the 1990s, the bank says.This is the
fourth year in a row of robust growth performance, driven by high oil prices,
economic recovery in Europe and other successful reforms. As a result, many jobs
have been generated, primarily by the private sector. Indicators reveal that
employment grew 4.5 percent annually in the area from 2000 to 2005. "Countries
in the Middle East and North Africa need to remove the remaining barriers that
hinder the business environment for the private sector in order to maintain
growth, increase private investment and generate more jobs," says Daniela
Gressani,World Bank Vice President for that region.
Bending theYangtze to China’s Will
The Yangtze’s flow marks the latest chapter in China’s struggle to control its
waters.This year, for the first time, the mammoth Three Gorges Dam was used to
regulate the river. JIANLI, China: The Yangtze River, flowing more than 3,900
miles from the mountains ofTibet through fertile plains here in Hubei province
and on to the East China Sea,was playing its traditional life-giving role last
week, feeding the Chinese economy as it has for centuries.
As barges laden with goods churned upstream and irrigation canals branched out,
the river’s even flow seemed in many ways remarkable. Other rivers in
China have swollen out of their banks,with floods killing about 700 people and
causing an estimated $7 billion in damage to buildings and farmland over the
past two weeks.
TheYangtze’s flow across the Hubei flatlands marks the latest chapter in China’s
millenary struggle to control its waters. Since before written history began,
the river has alternated between giving life to China’s farmers through
irrigation and killing them through seasonal flooding. But this year, for the
first time, the mammoth Three Gorges Dam, 220 miles upstream from here,was used
to regulate the river, releasing limited amounts of water and trapping the
excess of summer rains in a huge reservoir.
The engineers who have run the dam since it was finished a year ago said the
606-foot-high structure, the world’s largest flood-control and hydroelectric
barrier, passed its first real test as the waters peaked last Tuesday. Boat
traffic was halted as engineers let up to 48,000 cubic metres per second rush
through 18 giant sluices. But the rest of the backed-up water stayed on the
other side of the 7,575-foot-wide concrete barrier. Hubei provincial officials
predicted the riverbed could handle the limited flow as it headed downstream to
the Yangtze’s mouth just north of Shanghai.The water level at Shashi, about 50
miles upstream from here, peaked at the 43-metre danger level, they reported;
byWednesday, it had started to decline. “The biggest flood crest on theYangtze
River this year has passed through the Three Gorges Dam, and the middle and
lower reaches of the Yangtze were protected,” Yuan Jie, the engineer in charge
of water flow, told the official New China News Agency on Wednesday.“The crest
was tamed in the reservoir.” Zhuan Xingjia, a labourer who works on a dredging
barge docked at Jianli, hailed the news and took comfort in the calm waters
around him, but he cautioned that the Yangtze has not always been so
subdued. “The dam has done us some good; this year is nothing like ‘98,” he
said. “It was up to there,” he added, Bending theYangtze to China’sWill
gesturing at the dike that protects Jianli suburbs. That was one of at least
four large-scale floods — in 1931, 1935, 1954 and 1998 — that have devastated
riverside towns and farms since complete meteorological records have been kept.
But in addition to the record-setting outpourings, thousands of lesser
floods have taken their annual toll for centuries. InWuhan, the provincial
capital 130 miles northeast of here, a bronze statue and a commemorative stele
have
been erected to honor Yu the Great, a legendary emperor who won his subjects’
hearts 4,000 years ago by digging canals to divert seasonal floods away from the
city. More recently, Mao Zedong pledged famously that under communism the
Chinese would be able to bend nature to their will—and he, too, got a memorial
beside theYangtze.
The project has been heavily criticised since construction began 14 years ago.
More than a million people were displaced to make way for the reservoir,
often with little regard for their desires, and corruption undermined government
pledges to pay them compensation for the land. Conservationists asserted
that the huge backup of water would affect the climate and become a cesspool for
Chongqing, a huge city 250 miles upstream. Some critics voiced worry that,
because of flaws, the concrete construction could give way, sending a wall of
water coursing toward downstream communities.
In its first flood-prevention operation, however, the dam drew only praise from
those living downstream. “The dam has done us a lot of good,” saidWu Jinghua,
who was lunching with his wife, niece and nephew at a Jianli amusement park 500
yards from the riverbank. Most of the flooding this year affected people living
along the Huai River, north of here inAnhui and Jiangsu provinces, and along the
Jialing River, a tributary of the Yangtze in Sichuan province to the west.
Shaanxi, to the northwest, also suffered from rains last week that killed 16
people and left 14 more missing.Hubei province was hit as well, however, along
smaller streams as they flowed toward theYangtze.
Overall, according to an estimate by the New China News Agency, the flooding
affected nearly 120 million people — almost 10 percent of the population —
despite the apparent taming of theYangtze.
Source:
TheWashington Post, Energy central, EnergyBiz,HT, ET
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