Bhilai power project’s first unit goes on stream

New Delhi: The first 250-MW unit of the Bhilai expansion thermal power project of NTPC-SAIL Power Company Pvt Ltd (NSPCL) was commissioned by the Minister of State for Commerce and Power, Mr Jairam Ramesh.

NSPCL is a joint venture between National Thermal Power Corporation and Steel Authority of India.

An official statement issued late this evening adds that the second 250-MW unit of the expansion project will go on stream by September this year. Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL) is the boiler and turbine supplier for the project.

The joint venture, which has an installed capacity of 314 MW before the Bhilai expansion, is owned 50 per cent each by NTPC and SAIL, and owns and operates captive power stations for SAIL at Durgapur, Rourkela and Bhilai.

Capacity target:

Mr Jairam Ramesh said that the target for capacity addition during this month is 310 MW, which will be met as a result of the commissioning of the first 250-MW unit and the proposed commissioning of 59.8 MW of the first phase of the Valuthur combined cycle gas extension project of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board later this month.

The Minister said that the generating capacity to be commissioned in May this year will be 760 MW and added that the target for addition of power generating capacity in 2008-09 is around 11,000 MW, as compared to an achievement of around 9,200 MW during 2007-08.