Ghatampur power station

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Ghatampur power station is a power station under construction in Answer-Mau, Ghatampur, Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
Ghatampur power station	Answer-Mau, Ghatampur, Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, India	25.975, 80.1889 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

• Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3: 25.975, 80.1889

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	Start year
Unit 1	operating	coal: lignite	660	supercritical	2024
Unit 2	construction	coal: lignite	660	supercritical	2025 (planned)
Unit 3	construction	coal: lignite	660	supercritical	2025 (planned)

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner	Parent
Unit 1	Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd [100%]	NLC India Ltd [51.0%]; Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [49.0%]
Unit 2	Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd [100%]	NLC India Ltd [51.0%]; Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [49.0%]
Unit 3	Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd [100%]	NLC India Ltd [51.0%]; Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [49.0%]

Project-level coal details

• Coal source(s): Pachwara-South Block, Dumka district, Jharkhand

Background

Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) proposed setting up a 1,980 MW (3×660 MW) coal-based power plant in Ghatampur in a joint venture with NLC Uttar Pradesh Power. Although one source reported that construction on the project began in June 2012, that report appeared to be in error since in August 2014 the company reported that land acquisition was still in progress, and the project was shown on the list of "future projects" rather than on the list of "projects under implementation." The project received terms of reference in 2012, followed by an environmental clearance (EC).

In 2013, NLC said nearly 2,500 acres of land had been allocated for the project and, of this, nearly 50 per cent had been acquired.

Opposition

The Union Ministry of Coal allocated the Pachwara-South Block in Dumka district of Jharkhand for the project. However, residents of the area objected to mining. NCL said, despite the opposition, the project would not be delayed due to work suspension, and was on schedule for completion in 2017.

December 2014: Project Still Stymied

The project applied for environmental clearance in January 2014. As of December 2014, the Times of India reported that the environmental clearance for the project remained blocked, due to lack of coal. Development of the Pachwara South block was among the coal blocks quashed by the Supreme Court in the Coalgate scandal. In addition, the Times of India stated that "Pachwara South coal block in Jharkhand is hard to come by because of tough forest laws. A senior official associated with the project said NLPC has sought import of coal for the power plant until a coal mine is allocated."

2015: Project receives clearance

According to the India MoEF website (accessed April 2015), the project again applied for environmental clearance (EC) in February 2015. EC was granted on June 17, 2015. The permit stated that imported coal from the Paradip Port would be used until the Pachwara South coal block attained the rated production.

The plant was not included in a March 2016 India government list of coal plants under construction.

In July 2016, it was reported the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had given its approval for the project.

Construction & further delays

As of 2017, the plant was under construction. In April 2021, the plant was reportedly planned for commissioning in 2021-2022. However, by November 2021, it was planned for 2022-2023. Reasons for ongoing delays listed included a "BKU Strike for 178 days," the impact of Covid-19, and "financial crunch" faced by the agency.

By May 2022, the plant was planned for 2023. Reports stated: "Work of all the BoP areas has been put on hold since August 2021 and presently, no work is going on the site due to financial issues being faced by M/s BGR. BGR is not able to pay its sub vendors."

According to the MoU signed between the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and the UPRVUNL in 2010, a minimum 75% of power from Ghatampur TPS was be allocated to Uttar Pradesh and 15% of the installed capacity was kept unallocated at the disposal of the Central government. NLC and U.P. shared equity share in the plant at a 51:49 ratio. In June 2022, Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd (APDCL) asked for a 20% equity participation in the power station. By December 2022, a request by the Assam government for 25% share of the power produced was accepted by the UP’s electricity regulatory commission. The Assam request for a 20% stake in the joint venture was still under consideration.

During a January 2023 site visit, Secretary of coal Amrat Lal Meena was told that one unit would become ready for operation by July and the remaining two units by the end of the calendar year.

In May 2023 Units 1, 2, and 3 were reportedly 90%, 78%, and 73% complete in construction. The May 2023 Broad Status report estimated that Unit 1 would be commissioned in August 2023, Unit 2 in November 2023, and Unit 3 in January 2024.

The June 2023 Broad Status reported delays in expected commissioning dates, with Unit 1 expected to be commissioned in November 2023, Unit 2 in January 2024, and Unit 3 in May 2024.

In the Expert Appraisal Committee's (EAC) October/November 2023 meeting minutes, it was noted that the power station's owner had applied for amendments in the project's Environmental Clearance (EC). According to the meeting minutes, the committee had deferred the proposal.

The November 2023 Broad Status highlighted expected commissioning now in 2024 for all three units - March 2024 for Unit 1, June 2024 for Unit 2 and September 2024 for Unit 3. Units 1, 2, and 3 were reportedly 90%, 80%, and 74% complete in construction, reflecting a minor change from % progress reported in May 2023. Balance-of-plant (BoP) was reported as a critical issue with slow progress.

In the April 2024 Broad Status report, the expected commissioning date for Unit 1 had been pushed back to June 2024. Unit 2 was expected to be commissioned in November 2024, and Unit 3 in March 2025.

The agenda of the EAC's June 2024 meeting noted that the project proponent had submitted a proposal for an EC amendment. During the meeting, the EAC deferred the proposed EC amendment for want of additional information.

2024: Unit 1 begins commercial operations

In December 2024, the power station's first unit reportedly completed its trial operations and began operating commercially.

Per the October 2024 Broad Status report, the expected commissioning dates of Units 2 and 3 had been pushed back to April and September 2025, respectively.

PPA

In mid-June 2023, it was reported that Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power had signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Assam government to ensure the supply of 492 MW of power from the developing power plant to Assam.

Financing

• Source of financing: 2018 - US$1.73 billion in debt from Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation, and State Bank of India; earlier - US$136 million from the Bank of India

It was reported in January 2018 that the project had secured Rs 11,067 crore (US$1.73 billion) in loans from Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation, and State Bank of India. Earlier, the project had secured a loan of Rs 1,000 crore from the Bank of India.

Articles and Resources

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.