Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project
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Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project is a cancelled power station in Kakarapalli, Santhabommali, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project | Kakarapalli, Santhabommali, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India | 18.521385, 84.239312 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4: 18.521385, 84.239312
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 660 | supercritical |
| Unit 2 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 660 | supercritical |
| Unit 3 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 660 | supercritical |
| Unit 4 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 660 | supercritical |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | East Coast Energy Pvt Ltd [100%] | Athena Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd |
| Unit 2 | East Coast Energy Pvt Ltd [100%] | Athena Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd |
| Unit 3 | East Coast Energy Pvt Ltd [100%] | Athena Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd |
| Unit 4 | East Coast Energy Pvt Ltd [100%] | Athena Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): 70 % Indian, 30% imported, imported
Financing
Source of financing:
Background
Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project consists of two phases, each 1320 MW. The project is sponsored by East Coast Energy .[1][2]
[3]
The project has been the target of multiple protests, resulting in two killings[4] and halting of construction by the India government in 2011.[5] The power station was listed as deferred in 2012.[6]
According to project developer Athena Energy, "stage-I of the plant is expected to be commissioned in December 2015 and stage-II is expected to be commissioned in 12 months thereafter."[7]
According to a 2014 article, the India Cabinet Committee on Investment is considering financing a "1,320 MW Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project"[8], but did not mention the additional 1320 MW, suggesting it may have been shelved.
In June 2015 East Coast Energy informed the India MoEF that the company was still seeking additional land for the project.[9]
According to the India Ministry of Power in November 2016, units 1-2 are planned for operation in mid- to late 2017. Delays are attributed to "Law & Order problem, Financial problem of the company, acquisition of balance land for sea water intake & railway siding."[10]
According to the India Ministry of Power in March 2017, units 1-2 are now planned for 2018, with work still held up primarily due to financial issues.[11]
According to the India Ministry of Power in March 2019, construction on units 1-2 is on hold indefinitely: "Presently work held up at site due to financial issues." Reasons for delay are listed as "Law & Order problem, Financial problem of the company, acquisition of balance land for sea water intake & railway siding".[12]
In July 2019, activists demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) report into the plant, saying project sponsor East Coast Energy "has caused irreparable damage to the valuable wetlands on which construction for the aborted project had been taken up." In addition, the petitioners said the project was essentially dead: “It is now formally on record that the promoters of Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project, East Coast Energy, is under liquidation. The EC for the project has lapsed by efflux of time" and "the petitioners are at liberty to contest any move to revive the EC anytime".[13]
Liquidation
Although the company continued to show photographs of construction activity on its website, examination of satellite photos on Google Earth dated 12/31/11 and 2/16/14 showed clearly that the construction site was abandoned after early state preparation. Archived photos from Google Earth dated 1/20/15 and 3/16/16 now show resumed progress on the site. But as of November 2016, the Ministry of Power reported that construction was on hold.[10]
In 2021 documents, the Central Electricity Authority noted the following about the project: "Liquidation Order date 22/04/2019; the Liquidator has partially sold the assets of the company on a standalone basis through e-auction." The project was listed as "Under construction TPP where work is on hold / not likely to be commissioned."[14]
In 2022 documents, the following update was added: "RP has entered into an agreement to sell with a buyer for sale of Plant Land after seeking approvals from the NCLT for a private sale. As regards remaining assets i.e. Township and other miscellaneous assets, RP have published an advertisement in the News-papers (Business Standard and Sakshi) on 16-08-2022 after 5 unsuccessful auctions. The last date for submission of EoI was 01-09-2022."[15]
Liquidation details: https://www.eastcoastenergy.co.in/LIQUIDATION.html
In April 2023, the land owner applied for an extension to the allowed liquidation period after not having received any bids for the land liquidation. The court granted an additional six months to the process, with the potential for the owner to apply for additional time if needed.[16] The November 2023 Broad Status report stated that the liquidator sold the land including buildings at the plant site in February 2023.[17]
Cronyism Charges
According to The Times of India, the chairman of East Coast Energy is T Sankarlingnam, former chairman of National Thermal Power Corporation. One of the directors of East Coast Energy, P Balraj, previously served as chairman of the union environment ministry's expert appraisal committee for thermal and coal power projects at the time that Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project received its clearances.[1]
One blogger wrote that the project was a product of "crony capitalism":[18]
- The 2640 MW Bhavanapadu coal-based thermal power plant near Kakarlapalli is being developed by East Coast Energy Private Limited (ECEPL). If you look out for the promoters of this company in their website, you would find that Athena Energy Ventures Pvt Ltd (AEVPL), AIP Power Pvt Ltd (AIP) and PTC India Financial Services Ltd are among them. All these 3 promote another company Athena Demwe Power Limited for a hydro-electric project in Arunchal Pradesh. If you look at the board of directors of this company, you find a certain Mr. A. Balraj. Mr Balraj is a retired IAS officer and more interestingly, the chairman of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), the same which recommended the environmental clearance for the Kakarapalli!
The following details of this Environmental clearance are available on the website of Ministry of Environment & Forests.[19]
- Project No: J- 13011/36/ 2008-IA II(T)
- Project Name: 2640 MW Bhavanapadu TPP near Kakrapalli Village
- District:Sri Kakulam
- Village:no
- Company:M/s East Coast Energy Pvt. Ltd.
- Application for EC received: 18/03/2008
- EC Approved: 09/04/2009
February 2011: Two killed, 25 injured in clashes
On February 28, 2011, in a set of clashes sparked by construction of Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project, police in Srikakulam fired into villagers, killing two people and injuring nearly 25 others. During the previous July, two people were killed in violence related to a separate proposed coal plant in the same district. The dead were identified as Sirapu Yerraiah (36) of Sirapuvani Peta and J. Nageswara Rao (35) of Akashalakkavaram. At least two of the injured were hit at close range with rubber bullets. Police used guns, teargas, and lathis against villagers, who used stones and sticks. After police threw smoke bombs in Vadditandra village, 50 houses were gutted. A police jeep was burned by villagers.[20]
April 2011: Villagers at Kakrapalli mark 238 days of relay hunger strike
According to a report by the environmental television feature program Save India's Coast, villagers at Kakrapalli were continuing a relay hunger strike in order to raise pressure on governmental officials to finally cancel the Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project. The broadcast showed footage of houses damaged by smoke bombs during the police attack on town of Kakrapalli.[21]
For a comprehensive set of links to TV news bulletins on the police crackdown in Srikakulam and the political debate over the project see Bhavanapadu Thermal Power Project/Videos.
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 B Krishna Prasad, "Bevy of retired power officials linked to East Coast Energy," The Times of India, March 15, 2011
- ↑ MW "Salient Features," East Coast Energy website, accessed 12/11
- ↑ Wikimapia for 18.5138161, 84.2449021, accessed October 2013
- ↑ K. Srinivasa Rao, "2 killed, 25 hurt in police firing in Kakarapalli," The Hindu, March 1, 2011
- ↑ "MoEF again stops Bhavanapadu power plant's construction work," Business Today, November 7, 2011.
- ↑ "List Of Deferred Thermal Power Projects – As on March 2012," Industry Monitor Energy, accessed March 2014.
- ↑ "2,640 MW BHAVNAPADU THERMAL POWER PROJECT," Athena Energy, accessed March 2014.
- ↑ "CCI to consider projects worth Rs 33,000 crore," Press Trust Of India, January 6, 2014.
- ↑ "Request for amendment," East Coast Energy, June 12, 2015
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Monthly report on broad status of thermal power projects in the country," India Ministry of Power, November 2016
- ↑ "Monthly report on broad status of thermal power projects in the country," India Ministry of Power, March 2017
- ↑ Broad Status of Thermal Power Plants, India Central Electricity Authority, March 2019
- ↑ "CBI probe: Andhra Pradesh: Activist demands CBI probe into power project | Visakhapatnam News - Times of India". The Times of India. 2019-07-11. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
- ↑ “Thermal Broad Status Reports,” Central Electricity Authority, November 2021
- ↑ “Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects,” India Central Electricity Authority, November 2022
- ↑ “IA (IBC)/563/2023 in CP (IB) No.23/7/HDB/2018,” NATIONAL COMPANY LAW TRIBUNAL, April 19, 2023
- ↑ "Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects" (PDF). Central Electricity Authority. November 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "How Crony Capitalism Lead to the Kakarapalli tragedy," The Argumentatitve Indian, March 1, 2011
- ↑ "How Crony Capitalism Lead to the Kakarapalli tragedy," The Argumentatitve Indian, March 1, 2011
- ↑ K. Srinivasa Rao, "2 killed, 25 hurt in police firing in Kakarapalli," The Hindu, March 1, 2011
- ↑ "Naupada Bioreserve vs Thermal Power," Save India's Coast, uploaded April 13, 2011
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
