Binjkote power station
{{#Badges:CoalSwarm|navbar-Indiacoal}}Binjkote power station is a 600-megawatt (MW) coal plant in Chhattisgarh, India. It is also referred to as the Raigarh power station (SKS Ispat).
An additional 600 MW is proposed.
Contents
Location
Satellite photos showed two units under construction, as does the October 2016 Broad Status Report.[1]
Background
The project received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on October 5, 2010. According to the clearance, the project is located at villages Binjkot and Darramura, in Karsia taluk, in Raigarh district. Land requirement will be 874 acres, including 664 acres of agricultural land and 24.67 acres of double-crop agricultural land. Coal linkage has been obtained from the Fatehpur Coal Blck. Water allocation has been obtained from the Mahanadi River. No forest land is located on the project site; however, a number of reserve projects are located within 10 km.[2]
According to a September 2013 news report, land area for the plant had been reduced by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) from 874 acres to 568.668 acres.[3][4]
In 2014 it was reported that commissioning of the power station would likely be delayed to after July 2015 due to issues with coal supply linkages.[5]
In July 2015 SKS power said that it was looking for a new investor to raise additional debts and keep the project alive, as private equity investor Blackstone had pulled out of the project in January 2014, and project cost escalations was crippling SKS finances. The SKS annual report for 2013-14 noted the project costs for the project's first phase (2×300 MW) had risen to Rs 4,750 crore, whereas the entire project cost (4×300 MW) of the plant had been earlier estimated at Rs 5,100 crore. The company has managed to complete 70% of phase-I of the project, its annual report for FY14 noted. It is uncertain if the revised commissioning date of July 2015 for phase-I and September 2015 for phase-II will be attained.[6] Environmental clearance was renewed on March 4, 2016.[7]
Unit 1 was commissioned on 25 April 2017.[8] As of November 2017 the unit is still not in commercial operation due to a lack of coal.[9]
The India government projects unit 2 will be commissioned in November 2017.[10][11]
Unit 2 was synchronized in December 2017, and is planned for commissioning in 2018.[9] Unit 2 was commissioned in March 2018.[12]
Units 3 and 4 are still not under construction, as the company is still acquiring land for their operation,[9] and is facing financial problems.
Plant a stressed asset
In June 2018, a consortium of lenders led by the State Bank of India (SBI) put the Binjkote power station on sale. The total principal outstanding, as on March 31, stood at Rs 4,892 crore, of which SBI’s exposure was Rs 4,155 crore. SBI Capital Markets has been appointed by SBI on behalf of the consortium to invite proposals through a bidding process and identify an investor for acquisition of at least 51% share in the company.[13]
The plant has been unable to secure a long-term PPA, the plant has been unable to source linkage coal. At present, it sources coal through e-auction and from the open market.[13]
Permitting and impacts
Hearings
According to the India Ministry of the Environment and Forests, a public hearing for the project was conducted on July 17, 2010.[2]
Air pollution
The project will include "high efficiency electrostatic precipitators." No flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment is required, but the 275 meter stack will be provided with "continuous online monitoring equipments for SOx, NOx, and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PR10, and mercury emissions from the stack "may also [be] monitored on periodic basis."[2]
Fly ash and bottom ash
According to the MoEF letter, "Ash pond shall be moved away from side facing river and a thick three tier green belt shall be developed on the western side of the ash pond. Area of reservoir shall be restricted to 75 acres. Utilization of 100% fly ash generated shall be made from 4th year of operation of the plant.... Fly ash shall be collected in dry form and storage facility (silos) shall be provided. Un-utilized fly ash shall be disposed off in the ash pond in the form of slurry. Mercury and other heavy metals (As, Hg, Cr, Pb etc.) will be monitored in the bottom ash as also in the effluents emanating from the existing ash pond. No ash shall be disposed of in low lying area. Ash pond shall be lined with HDPE/LDPE lining or any other suitable impermeable media such that no leachate takes place at any point in time. Adequate safety measures shall also be implemented to protect the ash dike from getting breached."[2]
Environmental monitoring and public information
According to the MoEF letter, "Project proponent will up-load the compliance status in their website and up-date the same from time to time at least six monthly basis. Criteria pollutants levels including NOx (from stack 7 ambient air) shall be displayed at the main gate of the power plant.[2]
Water
According to the MoEF letter, "Source sustainability study of water requirement shall be carried out by an institute of repute. The study shall also specify the source of water for meeting the requirement during lean season. The report shall be submitted to the Regional Office of the Ministry within six months. No ground water shall be extracted for use in operation of the power plant even in lean season. Hydro geological study of the area shall be reviewed annually and report submitted to the Ministry. No water bodies including natural drainage system in the area shall be disturbed due to activities associated with the setting up / operation of the power plant. COC of 6.0 shall be adopted. The treated effluents conforming to the prescribed standards only shall be re-circulated and reused within the plant. There shall be no discharge outside the plant boundary except during monsoon. Arrangements shall be made that effluents and storm water do not get mixed."[2]
Coal supply delayed
According to a September 2013 news report, the company had not yet entered into a fuel supply pact with Coal India.[3] By 2015 the SKS Ispat and Power Ltd website said that it had signed a coal supply agreement with South Eastern Coalfields Ltd.[6]
Project Details
Sponsor: SKS Ispat and Power
Location: Binjkote and Darramura villages, Kharsia taluk, Raigarh district, Chhattisgarh
Coordinates: 22.010422, 83.205779 [2](exact)
Status: Units 1-2: Operating; Units 3 and 4: Permitted
Nameplate capacity: 1200 MW (4 x 300 MW)
Type: Subcritical
Start date: 2017 (Unit 1), 2018 (Unit 2)
Coal Source: Domestic
Estimated annual CO2:
Source of financing:
Permits: "Environmental Clearance," India MoEF, October 5, 2010; EC extension, India MoEF, March 4, 2016
Resources and articles
References
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, October 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Environmental clearance letter, MoEF to SKS Power Generation (Chhattisgarh) Ltd., October 5, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Power plants like Lanco, DVC yet to sign FSA with Coal India," Economic Times, September 13, 2013
- ↑ Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country, Central Electricity Authority, September 2013
- ↑ " Coal linkage to some of 11th Plan power projects may be revoked," PM News Bureau, June 20, 2014
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "SKS Power seeks new investors for Chhattisgarh plant," Financial Express, July 26, 2015
- ↑ EC extension, India MoEF, 4 Mar 2016
- ↑ "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, April 2017
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, November 2017
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," India CEA, November 2015
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, March 2016
- ↑ "Installed capacity," India CEA, 31.03.2018
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Stressed asset: Lenders put SKS Power plant with Rs 5k crore exposure on sale," FE, June 6, 2018
