Ennore Thermal Power Station
{{#Badges:CoalSwarm|navbar-Indiacoal}}Ennore power station is a retired 450-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Tamil Nadu, India, owned by the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO).
TANGEDCO has proposed adding 2 x 660 MW units at the power station - one known as an expansion and the other as a replacement of the now retired power station.
Contents
Location
The undated satellite photo below shows the retired power station and the expansion project in Ernavur village, about 20 kms from Chennai city.
Existing power station
The existing power station was established during 1970-75 in an area of about 237 acres. It had an installed capacity of 450 MW (3x110 MW + 2x60 MW) when commissioned.[1]
The power station was shut down permanently on March 31, 2017, and will be replaced with the proposed 660 MW replacement unit.[2]
New units
Expansion unit
TANGEDCO plans to call for tenders for the construction of a 660MW coal-fired unit (previously 600 MW) in February 2012 with construction scheduled to begin in mid-2012 and commissioning in December 2015.[3][4]
In January 2012 it was announced that Chief Minster Jayalalithaa approved the building of the 600MW coal-fired unit and that it was projected to be commissioned by late 2015. It was reported that the new unit would not require the acquisition of additional land.[3]
The Energy Department's Policy note 2014-15 includes the Ennore expansion (Unit 6). The project cost is Rs 5,000 crore. The construction contract was awarded to Lanco Infratech.[5]
As of April 2015 the power station is listed as under construction by the India government.[6] It is planned for operation in 2018.[7][8]
In March 2018, TNEB cancelled the contract given to Lanco for setting up the unit, saying the project was stuck because of Lanco’s financial problems. Since August 2017, Lanco’s insolvency case is pending with the National Company Law Tribunal. The project was to be commissioned in January 2018, but as of March 2018 is less than 20% complete. According to TNEB, once a new contractor is identified through a re-tender, it would take three more years for the project to be completed.[9]
According to the India Ministry of Power in April 2019, "Corporate Insolvency & Bankruptcy Process (CIRP) [have been] initiated against Lanco (the EPC Contractor) by IDBI Bank from 07.08.2017 and interim resolution professional appointed on 10.08.2017 and hence the project has been stalled from 07.08.2017." No date is offered for completion.[10]
Replacement unit
In addition to the expansion unit, TANGEDCO has proposed replacing the existing 450 MW (nameplate) coal plant with a new 660 MW unit (Unit 7). The company received a terms of reference for the project on July 24, 2014, and submitted an EIA in July 2017.[1]
The plant is opposed by the residents who fear that the new plant will degrade the air quality and lead to a loss of fishing livelihoods.[11]
Coal supply
Expansion unit
Coal for the project is planned to be sourced in part from the Mandakini-B coal block in Orissa which has been earmarked to be shared equally between the Odisha State Mining Corporation, the Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation, the Assam Mineral Development Corporation and TANGEDCO. The use of imported coal to blend with coal from Orissa has also been foreshadowed.[3]
Replacement unit
In the 2017 EIA it was reported the new unit would use domestic coal from the Chandrabila coal block, Odisha.[1]
Project Details of unit 6
Sponsor: Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation
Location: Ernavur village, Ambathur taluk, Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu
Coordinates: Existing plant: 13.2016, 80.3112 (exact); Unit 6: 13.1980211, 80.3104341 (exact)
Status: Construction
Capacity: 660 MW
Type: Supercritical
Projected in service:
Coal Type:
Coal Source: Mandakini-B coal block, Odisha
Source of financing:
Permits and applications: Environmental Clearance, June 3, 2009; additional information, January 24, 2013; "Terms of Reference extension for EIA/EMP report," India MoEF, 2 August 2016
Project Details of unit 7
Sponsor: Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation
Location: Ernavur village, Ambathur taluk, Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu
Coordinates: 13.2016, 80.3112 (exact)
Status: Pre-permit development
Capacity: 660 MW
Type: Supercritical
Projected in service:
Coal Type:
Coal Source: Chandrabila coal block, Odisha
Source of financing:
Permits and applications: EIA, TANGEDCO, July 2017
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 EIA, TANGEDCO, July 2017
- ↑ Executive Summary for the proposed Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS). Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd., (January 2017).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 T. Ramakrishnan, "Nod for project to replace Ennore power station", The Hindu, January 2, 2012.
- ↑ Additional Information file, MoEF, 24 Jan 2013
- ↑ "TN Generation and Distribution Corp plans to add over 5700 MW before 2020," Business Standard, July 22, 2014
- ↑ Broad Status Report, India Central Electrical Authority, April 2015
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, March 2016
- ↑ "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, March 2017
- ↑ "Lanco finance crisis leaves project undone, TN in fix," TNN, Mar 27, 2018
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, April 2019
- ↑ Ennore residents oppose power plant. The Hindu (31 May 2017).
