'NTPC's Mouda plant may run up to full capacity soon'.

NTPC's first plant in Maharashtra's Mouda district may run up to its full capacity within the next couple of months as it has been assured of coal supply from Western Coalfields Ltd. (WCL).

Currently, NTPC's Mouda facility, about 40 km from here, gets coal supply from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. (MCL) in Odisha, and due to the long distance of over 600 km, power generation cost has shot up owing to high transportation expenses, Group General Manager V Thangapandian told PTI recently.

The generation cost, which is currently Rs. 3.90 a unit, will come down drastically to nearly Rs. 2.50, which will boost the demand, he said.

'We have been assured coal supply of 17 lakh tonnes by WCL from its Majri mines in Chandrapur district, which is roughly 160 km and infrastructure for transport like railway siding will be ready within two months,' Thangapandian said.

There are two generating units of 500 MW each currently on stream at the Mouda plant. But of late, due to low demand from farms and domestic sector and relatively high cost, the plant is not functioning up to its full capacity.

The Mouda plant has a power purchase agreement with the State Government for 350 MW.


HBL