Godda Project

From SourceWatch
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Godda Project is a proposed 1,600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Jharkhand, India.

Location

The map below shows the location of Godda district, Jharkhand state, India but not the exact location of the project.

Loading map...

Background

In a draft prospectus released in December 2009, Jindal Power states that the proposed plant would be a supercritical unit and that on February 20, 2007, the Ministry of Coal allocated the company the Jitpur coal block in Godda, Jharhand. The company states that the area "has 81 million tons of geological reserve, based on information provided by the Ministry of Coal. We have entered into a 25 year long-term coal supply agreement with JSPL for the supply of coal for this power project, subject to the approval of the Ministry of Coal."[1]

The company states in the prospectus that "we are in the process of appointing the consultants for providing engineering consultancy services in relation to our Godda Project and are also evaluating alternatives for implementing the project on an EPC basis or through multiple packages."[1]

The estimated cost of the Godda Project is Rs. 36,660.00 million. Jindal Steel & Power has applied to the government of Jharkhand for the acquisition of approximately 693.86 acres of land for the project. The company intends to source water for the proposed plant from the Sunder Dam in Godda district and build pipelines to the power station location. It also proposes that coal from the Jitpur coal block would be carried to the project site via a 3km long conveyor.[1]

Power generated at Godda will meet 50-60% the captive needs of its steel units in Patratu and Asanboni. JSPL hopes to sell the surplus power to the state grid. The plant is scheduled for completion by 2017.[2][3]

In February 2015 JSPL said it had acquired 250 acres out of total 1000 acres it requires for setting up the project.[4]

JSPL was allotted a coal mine at Jitpur in Godda for the proposed power plant in Sunderpahari block. However, the project has been stalled after the Supreme Court cancelled the coal block in 2014.[5] JSPL lost the mines following the Coalgate scandal. Subsequently, plans for the captive thermal power plant was scrapped in 2015.[6]

In November 2015 Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) sent a fresh proposal to the state government to start an integrated power plant in Godda. The company said it is in possession of about 500 acres for the plant and approached the Godda district administration for acquisitions of another 700 acres in the vicinity of the 500-acre site. JSPL is also seeking a new coal linkage.[6]

In December 2016 the state government decided to re-allocate the Jitpur coal block to Jindal. The plant will be 2 x 800 MW.[7]

As of December 2018 there have been no further developments on the project, and the plant appears shelved.

Opposition

In May 2013, more than 50 Adivasi farmers, including women, were detained for over six hours by polce in Godda. The farmers from 11 villages said that they were opposed to land acquisition for the Godda Project. Protester Hopanmai Marandi told reporters, "My family lives at Seemaldhap village in Chota Amarpur. More than 200 of us had gathered at Tiril Tola over the last two days because we planned to march to the venue but the police arrested us. I had rice with me for my little daughter but the police kept that away too." Protester Mary Nisha Hasda said, "We were already displaced when the Sunder Dam was built. We will not allow ourselves to be moved from our land again."[8]

Project Details

Sponsor: Jindal Steel & Power
Location: Nipania village, Sunder Pahari taluk, Godda district, Jharkhand
Coordinates: 24.82786, 87.213676 (approximate)
Status: Shelved
Nameplate capacity: 1,600 MW (2 x 800 MW)
Type: Supercritical
Projected in service:
Coal Type:
Coal Source:
Source of financing:
Permits: Environmental clearance, India MoEF, Mar 30, 2012

Articles and Resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jindal Power Limited, "Draft Red Herring Prospectus", Jindal Power, December 2009, page 44. (Pdf)
  2. Rakhi Majumdar, "JSPL to come up with 1320 MW thermal power plant at Godda," ET Bureau, Apr 30, 2013.
  3. “Expansion Plans: Thermal,” Jindal Steel & Power website, accessed August 2014
  4. "Village heads want JSPL plant in Godda," The Times of India, Feb 6, 2015
  5. Rajesh Kumar Pandey, "Village heads want JSPL plant in Godda," Times of India, Feb 6, 2015
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Jindal plans new power plant," The Telegraph, Nov 3, 2015
  7. "Jharkhand govt re-allots Jitpur coal block to Jindal Steel and Power," Energy World, Dec 21, 2016
  8. "Police detain Adivasi protesters as President lays foundation for Jindal power plant," The Hindu, May 1, 2013

Related SourceWatch articles

Loading map...

External Articles