NTPC’s Kudgi plant to start commercial production in Sept.

NTPC Kudgi Super Thermal Power Project’s (STPP) first unit of 800 MW is set to commence commercial production in September.

“Currently, the plant is under test phase and is set for commissioning in May, but is expected to begin commercial production not earlier than September this year,” Subhasis Ghosh, Regional Executive Director (west-I), NTPC, told BusinessLine.

“Since Kudgi is a greenfield project and biggest among the company’s power generating asset, we may take six months for commercial production after series of tests,” he added.

Kudgi STPP being built at ₹15,166 crore, Toshiba of Japan, Doosan of Korea and L&T are EPC contractors, to generate 2400 MW, in the first stage with three units of 800 MW each and the balance in second stage with a total capacity of 4000 MW.

Ghosh said, “currently for testing and commissioning of Kudgi plant, we are using coal from Singareni Collieries on a temporary basis. Once the railway siding is constructed at Kudgi, coal from Bhalumunda (Chhattisgarh) will be utilised.”

The plant located at Vijayapura (Bijapur) in north Karnataka is primarily envisaged to meet the energy needs of four southern states proportionately with Karnataka getting 50 per cent of the total power production. The Kudgi plant is designed with super critical units with high efficiency. The technology has a cycle efficiency of around five per cent more than the conventional sub-critical technology and consumes 8-10 per cent less fuel.

“This results in consequent reduction in greenhouse emissions. The plant is designed with electro static precipitators with 99.97 per cent efficiency which captures the fly ash generated out of coal combustion within the plant and facilitates for ash utilisation,” said Balaji Iyengar, Group General Manager, NTPC Kudgi STPP.

“We have also put in place ash utilisation plan. As per the plan, we will be providing ash to end-user industries like cement and brick units. We have called for EOI and have received 14 applications mainly from the cement industries in the region,” he added.

HBL