Udangudi Super Critical Thermal Power Project
{{#badges: CoalSwarm|Navbar-Indiacoal}}Udangudi Super Critical Thermal Power Project is a proposed 1600-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in Tamil Nadu, India.
Two additional phases totaling 2640 MW have also been proposed.
Contents
Location
The undated satellite photo below shows the proposed location for the power station at Udangudi Village in Thoothukudi District, according to the project EIA. The location is about 650 Km south of Chennai and 45 Km from Thoothukudi.[1]
Background
The project is proposed by Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO). Phase I would be 2 x 800 MW, and phases II and III would be 4 x 660 MW.
It is proposed that a project-specific jetty be built at Udangudi with coal transported to the power station via a conveyor system.[2]
In 2012 Udangudi Power Corporation stated on its website that "the required clearances from the concerned agencies are being obtained and the final clearance from MoEF will be obtained shortly. The proposed date of commencement of the project activities at site is Apr 2012 and the proposed date of commissioning of the plant will be 2016 - 2017."[3]
In 2012 chief minister J. Jayalalithaa cancelled the deal with BHEL. The government said Tamil Nadu Electricity Board would implement the project on its own, and fresh tenders were floated in 2013.[4]
In March 2015 the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board scrapped the bids for the power station, now 1320 MW, saying the bids were defective. The board said it would float fresh tenders soon, but it may take more than a year to finalize a new contractor to execute the project.[4]
As of June 2017, the project is not mentioned on the TANGEDCO website.
However, in January 2018 plans for the project were revived, and a foundation stone was laid at the proposed project location. A construction contract for the plant was awarded to BHEL. Plans include establishing a captive coal jetty to import coal for the plant. Construction began on the jetty in mid-2018, and completion is planned for 2021. In September 2018 it was reported that fishermen were protesting construction of the jetty, saying it affected fish migration and restricted their movement.[5]
Phase II and III
In September 2015 TANGEDCO applied for a terms of reference for a phase II and III, each also 2 x 660 MW, which was approved in November 2015.[6]
There have been no developments on phases II and III since 2015, and they appear to be cancelled.
Ownership
Before TANGEDCO, the project was sponsored in 2008 by Udangudi Power Corporation - a joint venture company under the auspices of state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and the TamilNadu Electricity Board.[7][2][8]
In 2013 BHEL said it has exited Udangudi Power Corp. by selling its entire stake to joint venture partner Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corp. (Tangedco). Following its restructuring in 2010, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board’s stake in the joint venture was transferred to Tangedco.[9]
Coal supply
Udangudi Power Corporation proposed that it will need 6.74 million tonnes per annum of coal which it states will be sourced from "Talcher Coal fields of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited in Orissa state and 30% Imported Coal from Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, China, etc.)"[10]
Project Details
Sponsor: Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation
Location: Udangudi village, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu
Coordinates: 8.434722, 78.061111 (exact)
Status: Permitted (Units 1-2); Cancelled (Units 3-6)
Nameplate capacity: 4240 MW total; Units 1-2: 2 x 800 MW; Units 3-6: 4 x 660 MW
Type: Supercritical
Projected in service:
Coal Type:
Coal Source: Talcher Coal fields of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited in Orissa (70%) and 30% Imported Coal from Indonesia, South Africa, Australia, China
Estimated annual CO2: 28,385,763 tons
Source of financing:
Permits and applications:
- Environmental Impact Assessment, minutes
- Environmental clearance, India MoEF, Oct 14, 2013
- "Standard ToR for phases II and III," India MoEF, Nov 2, 2015
Articles and resources
References
- ↑ Environmental Impact Assessment TNEB, undated
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Udangudi Power Corporation Limited, "About Us", Udangudi Power Corporation Limited website, accessed June 2010.
- ↑ Udangudi Power Corporation, "About the project", Udangudi Power Corporation website, accessed January 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 B Sivakumar, "Udangudi power plant tender scrapped," TNN, Mar 15, 2015
- ↑ "Fishermen protest construction of coal jetty for Udangudi plant," Times of India, September 17, 2018
- ↑ "Standard ToR," India MoEF, Nov 2, 2015
- ↑ TamilNadu Electricity Board, "Power Projects", TamilNadu Electricity Board website, accessed June 2010.
- ↑ Joseph Vackayil, "New projects to make Tamil Nadu power surplus by September 2012," Financial Express, March 2, 2009
- ↑ "BHEL exits Udangudi Power Corp joint venture," Live Mint, Mar 29, 2013.
- ↑ Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), Tamilnadu, "Rapid EIA and EMP for the proposed 2X800 MW Udangudi Thermal Power Project", Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), Tamilnadu, page 2.
