Difference between revisions of "Amravati Thermal Power Project"

From SourceWatch
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Map Fix)
(updating map)
 
(52 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{#Badges:CoalSwarm|navbar-Indiacoal}} '''Amravati Thermal Power Project''' is a proposed coal plant in Maharashtra, India.
+
{{#Badges:CoalSwarm|navbar-Indiacoal}} '''Amravati Thermal Power Project''' is a 1350-megawatt (MW) coal-fired plant in Maharashtra, India.
  
 +
An additional phase II and III have been proposed.
  
 
==Location==
 
==Location==
The map below shows the location of Nandgaonpeth, but not the exact location of the project:
+
The undated satellite photo below shows the power station, along with the two partially built units on the abandoned Phase II immediately to the east, near the village of Nandgaonpeth in Amravati district, Maharashtra.
{{#display_point:21.024339, 77.822969|width=500|height=400|type=normal|zoom=8}}
+
{{#display_map:21.0803156, 77.9012418|width=600|height=500|type=hybrid|zoom=16}}
  
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
'''Amravati Thermal Power Project''' is a 2670 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station which is currently under construction. The project, which is owned by [[Indiabulls Power]] Ltd, comprises five 270 MW units with a further 1320 MW foreshadowed.<ref>Platts, [http://www.platts.com/Products/worldelectricpowerplantsdatabase "World Electric Power Plants Database, September 2011"], accessed November 2011. (The database is not available online but a downloadable spreadsheet can be purchased.)</ref> The power station is being built at Nandgaonpeth, Amravati district, Maharashtra.  
+
===Phase I===
 +
The proposed project by RattanIndia Power Ltd (formerly [[Indiabulls Power]] Ltd) would consist of three stages. Stage I would comprise five 270 MW units. For Stage I, the first unit of 270 MW was completed on March 25, 2013, and the second February 17, 2014.<ref name=broad/><ref name=Indiabulls>[http://www.indiabulls.com/power/thermal.htm Thermal Power Project: Amravati,] Indiabulls website, accessed November 2012</ref> The next three units are expected to be operational in FY 2014.<ref name=rr>[http://www.livemint.com/Companies/FzJ4DrScJbPVaH9yqUxrJN/Rajiv-Rattan-to-invest-360-crore-in-Indiabulls-Power.html "Rajiv Rattan to invest Rs360 crore in Indiabulls Power,"] Live Mint, Sep 8, 2014.</ref>
  
The company states that "coal linkage has been granted and letters of assurance from [[South Eastern Coalfields]] Ltd. (SECL), [[Western Coalfields]] Ltd. (WCL) and [[Mahanadi Coalfields]] Ltd. (MCL) have been issued."<ref>Indiabulls Power, [http://www.indiabulls.com/power/amravati.htm "Amravati Thermal Power Project"], Indiabulls Power website, accessed November 2011.</ref>
+
In 2011 the company said that coal linkage had been granted and that "letters of assurance from [[South Eastern Coalfields]] Ltd. (SECL), [[Western Coalfields]] Ltd. (WCL) and [[Mahanadi Coalfields]] Ltd. (MCL) have been issued."<ref>Indiabulls Power, [http://www.indiabulls.com/power/amravati.htm "Amravati Thermal Power Project"], Indiabulls Power website, accessed November 2011.</ref>
 +
 
 +
The company stated in 2012 that the project had achieved financial closure, and "construction is in full swing."<ref name=pr>[http://www.indiabulls.com/ibgroup/media.htm "Robust results for Indiabulls Power in FY 2011-12,"] Indiabulls press release, April 28, 2012</ref>
 +
 
 +
Units 3-5 were commissioned by RattanIndia Power Ltd in February and March 2015. The company also laid a new railway track between Walgaon and the power plant for direct coal supply from South Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of [[Coal India]].<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Amravati-plant-attains-full-capacity/articleshow/46738984.cms "Amravati plant attains full capacity,"] Times of India, Mar 30, 2015</ref>
 +
 
 +
====Coal plant paid millions to sit idle====
 +
In May 2017 ''Climate Home'' reported that state-owned Mahadiscom, the world’s second largest electricity distribution company, was bearing the fixed cost of the coal plant under its power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rattan India. Under the contract, the distribution company must buy power at a cost of nearly US$600 million over the four years to 2020, yet Mahadiscom forecasts the capacity will be needed only a fraction of that time, and the company plans to completely “back down” the plant from April 2017 to March 2018, documents show. The unit cost works out at US$2.40 a kilowatt hour, almost 40 times the market rate.<ref>[http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/05/16/indian-coal-plant-paid-150m-sit-idle/?platform=hootsuite "The Indian coal plant paid $150m to sit idle,"] Climate Home, 16/05/2017</ref>
 +
 
 +
===Phases II and III===
 +
According to the Central Electricity Authority, Phase II consists of five units of 270 MW each, rather than two units of 660 MW each as described by Indiabulls.<ref name=broad>[http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/proj_mon/broad_status.pdf Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country,] Central Electricity Authority, February 2014</ref> Phase II received environmental clearance in 2011.<ref>[http://bit.ly/1mbMkPl Environmental Clearance,] India MoEF, May 27, 2011</ref> It is under construction and planned for commercial operation during India's 13th plan (2018-2023).<ref>[http://powermin.nic.in/upload/loksabhatable/pdf/LS23072015_Eng.pdf "Supply of coal to Power Plants,"] India Ministry of Power, July 23, 2015</ref> In November 2015 it was reported that the construction was on hold.<ref>[http://cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/broadstatus/2015/broad_status-11.pdf "Broad Status Report,"] India Central Electrical Authority, November 2015</ref> As of October 2017 construction was still on hold.<ref>[http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/broadstatus/2017/broad_status-10.pdf "Broad Status Report,"] India Central Electrical Authority, October 2017</ref>
 +
 
 +
As of November 2017, there had not been significant expenditure on the project since fiscal year 2012-2013. With over four years of inactivity, the project appears to be abandoned.<ref>[http://www.cea.nic.in/reports/monthly/broadstatus/2017/broad_status-11.pdf "Broad Status Report,"] India Central Electrical Authority, November 2017</ref>
 +
 
 +
The company also received a terms of reference for a stage III of a further 1320 MW in 2009,<ref>[http://bit.ly/1rcTJM8 Terms of Reference,] India MoEF, December 2, 2009.</ref> although stage III is not mentioned in 2014 news updates on the project<ref name=pp/><ref name=rr/> and appears to be cancelled.
 +
 
 +
==Ownership==
 +
As of July 2014, there are talks of [[Adani Power]] acquiring the power project from owner RattanIndia Power Ltd.<ref name=pp>Piyush Pandey,[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/energy/power/Adani-eyes-Indiabulls-1350-MW-Amravati-Thermal-Power-Project/articleshow/39282558.cms "Adani eyes Indiabulls' 1,350 MW Amravati Thermal Power Project,"] TNN, July 30, 2014.</ref>
 +
 
 +
==Opposition==
 +
In 2010 activists affiliated with Upper Wardha Paani Bachao Kruti Samiti (a campaign to save water of the Upper Wardha dam) stalled work on the power station, opposing the diversion of irrigation water from the Upper Wardha to the project.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/protesters-stall-work-on-thermal-project-in-amravati/article692050.ece "Protesters stall work on thermal project in Amravati,"] The Hindu, Jan 27, 2010.</ref>
  
 
==Project Details==
 
==Project Details==
'''Sponsor:''' [[Indiabulls Power]] Ltd<br>
+
'''Sponsor:''' RattanIndia Power Ltd (formerly [[Indiabulls Power]] Ltd)<br>
 
'''Location:''' Nandgaonpeth, Amravati district, Maharashtra<br>
 
'''Location:''' Nandgaonpeth, Amravati district, Maharashtra<br>
'''Coordinates:''' 21.024339, 77.822969 (approximate)<br>
+
'''Coordinates:''' 21.0803156, 77.9012418 (exact)<br>
'''Status:''' Construction<br>
+
'''Status:'''  
'''Nameplate capacity:''' 1350 MW (five units, each 270 MW), plus 1320 MW prospective<br>
+
*Phase I, Unit 1: commissioned March 25, 2013
'''Type:''' <br>
+
*Phase I, Unit 2: commissioned February 17, 2014
'''Projected in service:''' <br>
+
*Phase I, Units 3-5: commissioned February-March 2015
 +
*Phase II: Cancelled (no activity in 4 years)
 +
*Phase III: Cancelled
 +
'''Capacity:'''
 +
*Phase I: 1350 MW (five units, each 270 MW)
 +
*Phase II: 1350 MW (five units, each 270 MW)
 +
*Phase III: 1320 MW (two units, 660 MW)
 +
'''Type:'''  
 +
*Phase I: [[subcritical]]
 +
*Phase II and III: [[supercritical]]
 +
'''Projected in service:''' 2018-2023 (Phase II)<br>
 
'''Coal Type:''' <br>
 
'''Coal Type:''' <br>
 
'''Coal Source:''' <br>
 
'''Coal Source:''' <br>
 
'''Estimated annual CO<sub>2</sub>:''' <br>
 
'''Estimated annual CO<sub>2</sub>:''' <br>
 
'''Source of financing:''' <br>
 
'''Source of financing:''' <br>
 +
'''Permits and applications:'''
 +
*Phase I, Units 1-5: [http://bit.ly/1i5rhq9 Environmental Clearance,] India MoEF, Feb 27, 2009
 +
*Phase II, Units 1-5: [http://bit.ly/1mbMkPl, Environmental Clearance,] India MoEF, May 27, 2011
 +
*Phase III, Units 1 & 2: [http://bit.ly/1rcTJM8 Terms of Reference,] India MoEF, December 2, 2009
  
 
==Articles and resources==
 
==Articles and resources==
Line 59: Line 95:
 
===External articles===
 
===External articles===
  
[[category:india]] [[category:mining]][[Category: Proposed coal plants in Maharashtra]][[Category: India and coal]][[Category: Proposed coal plants in India]]
+
[[category:india]] [[category:mining]][[Category: Proposed coal plants in Maharashtra]][[Category: India and coal]][[Category: Proposed coal plants in India]][[Category: Proposed coal plants in Asia]][[Category: Existing coal plants in Maharashtra]][[Category: Existing coal plants in India]][[Category: Existing coal plants in Asia]]

Latest revision as of 01:11, 18 January 2018

{{#Badges:CoalSwarm|navbar-Indiacoal}} Amravati Thermal Power Project is a 1350-megawatt (MW) coal-fired plant in Maharashtra, India.

An additional phase II and III have been proposed.

Location

The undated satellite photo below shows the power station, along with the two partially built units on the abandoned Phase II immediately to the east, near the village of Nandgaonpeth in Amravati district, Maharashtra.

Background

Phase I

The proposed project by RattanIndia Power Ltd (formerly Indiabulls Power Ltd) would consist of three stages. Stage I would comprise five 270 MW units. For Stage I, the first unit of 270 MW was completed on March 25, 2013, and the second February 17, 2014.[1][2] The next three units are expected to be operational in FY 2014.[3]

In 2011 the company said that coal linkage had been granted and that "letters of assurance from South Eastern Coalfields Ltd. (SECL), Western Coalfields Ltd. (WCL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL) have been issued."[4]

The company stated in 2012 that the project had achieved financial closure, and "construction is in full swing."[5]

Units 3-5 were commissioned by RattanIndia Power Ltd in February and March 2015. The company also laid a new railway track between Walgaon and the power plant for direct coal supply from South Eastern Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India.[6]

Coal plant paid millions to sit idle

In May 2017 Climate Home reported that state-owned Mahadiscom, the world’s second largest electricity distribution company, was bearing the fixed cost of the coal plant under its power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rattan India. Under the contract, the distribution company must buy power at a cost of nearly US$600 million over the four years to 2020, yet Mahadiscom forecasts the capacity will be needed only a fraction of that time, and the company plans to completely “back down” the plant from April 2017 to March 2018, documents show. The unit cost works out at US$2.40 a kilowatt hour, almost 40 times the market rate.[7]

Phases II and III

According to the Central Electricity Authority, Phase II consists of five units of 270 MW each, rather than two units of 660 MW each as described by Indiabulls.[1] Phase II received environmental clearance in 2011.[8] It is under construction and planned for commercial operation during India's 13th plan (2018-2023).[9] In November 2015 it was reported that the construction was on hold.[10] As of October 2017 construction was still on hold.[11]

As of November 2017, there had not been significant expenditure on the project since fiscal year 2012-2013. With over four years of inactivity, the project appears to be abandoned.[12]

The company also received a terms of reference for a stage III of a further 1320 MW in 2009,[13] although stage III is not mentioned in 2014 news updates on the project[14][3] and appears to be cancelled.

Ownership

As of July 2014, there are talks of Adani Power acquiring the power project from owner RattanIndia Power Ltd.[14]

Opposition

In 2010 activists affiliated with Upper Wardha Paani Bachao Kruti Samiti (a campaign to save water of the Upper Wardha dam) stalled work on the power station, opposing the diversion of irrigation water from the Upper Wardha to the project.[15]

Project Details

Sponsor: RattanIndia Power Ltd (formerly Indiabulls Power Ltd)
Location: Nandgaonpeth, Amravati district, Maharashtra
Coordinates: 21.0803156, 77.9012418 (exact)
Status:

  • Phase I, Unit 1: commissioned March 25, 2013
  • Phase I, Unit 2: commissioned February 17, 2014
  • Phase I, Units 3-5: commissioned February-March 2015
  • Phase II: Cancelled (no activity in 4 years)
  • Phase III: Cancelled

Capacity:

  • Phase I: 1350 MW (five units, each 270 MW)
  • Phase II: 1350 MW (five units, each 270 MW)
  • Phase III: 1320 MW (two units, 660 MW)

Type:

Projected in service: 2018-2023 (Phase II)
Coal Type:
Coal Source:
Estimated annual CO2:
Source of financing:
Permits and applications:

Articles and resources

References

  1. Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country, Central Electricity Authority, February 2014
  2. Thermal Power Project: Amravati, Indiabulls website, accessed November 2012
  3. Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 "Rajiv Rattan to invest Rs360 crore in Indiabulls Power," Live Mint, Sep 8, 2014.
  4. Indiabulls Power, "Amravati Thermal Power Project", Indiabulls Power website, accessed November 2011.
  5. "Robust results for Indiabulls Power in FY 2011-12," Indiabulls press release, April 28, 2012
  6. "Amravati plant attains full capacity," Times of India, Mar 30, 2015
  7. "The Indian coal plant paid $150m to sit idle," Climate Home, 16/05/2017
  8. Environmental Clearance, India MoEF, May 27, 2011
  9. "Supply of coal to Power Plants," India Ministry of Power, July 23, 2015
  10. "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, November 2015
  11. "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, October 2017
  12. "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, November 2017
  13. Terms of Reference, India MoEF, December 2, 2009.
  14. Jump up to: 14.0 14.1 Piyush Pandey,"Adani eyes Indiabulls' 1,350 MW Amravati Thermal Power Project," TNN, July 30, 2014.
  15. "Protesters stall work on thermal project in Amravati," The Hindu, Jan 27, 2010.

Related SourceWatch articles

External resources

External articles