Mukerian power station
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Mukerian power station is a cancelled power station in Sandhwal, Mukerian, Hoshiapur, Punjab state, India.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Mukerian power station | Sandhwal, Mukerian, Hoshiapur, Punjab state, India | 31.976137, 75.739532 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 660 | supercritical | 2018 |
| Unit 2 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 660 | supercritical | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd [100%] | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd [100%] | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): 229 million tonne Deocha-Pachami coal block in West Bengal
Background
The government of Punjab approved the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) power station in October 2011. The project had initially stalled in the approval process since April 2011. The delay involves a dispute over who is granted more clearances: public or private companies.[1] However, the project was approved in October 2011 and financial aspects were to be finalized by November 10, 2011. According to PSEB Engineers’ Association affiliated with the project, the financial restructuring plan will be finalized by December 31, 2011.[2]
A terms of reference was issued for the project in 2013.[3] The PSPCL is in the process of creating a special purpose vehicle (SPV), Mukerian Powers Limited, to kickstart the project. The corporation is hopeful of rolling out the first unit (660 MW) by 2018.[4]
In July 2013, the project received the 229 million tonne Deocha-Pachami coal block in West Bengal to Punjab. The grant of the coal block will allow the project to proceed on the fast track.[5]
In April 2016, Bhupinder Singh and Abhiraj S Randhawa of the Punjab Power Engineers’ Association said the proposed 1,320-MW project did not take off due to the fact that it was "nearly impossible to acquire land for the project."[6]
As of May 2016 the project has yet to receive environmental clearance, and plans appear to be deferred or abandoned.
Opposition and Soaring Land Acquisition Expenses
According to a September 2013 report, a new land acquisition act required the government to pay four times to market rate for land in rural areas and two times the market rate for land in urban areas, compared to the previous requirement to pay market value plus 30 percent. About 1000 acres in 28 villages will be affected by the new rules, adding to the expense of the plant. According to the report, the government was already "facing the ire" of local people.[7]
On September 10, 2013, it was reported that residents of more than 30 villages around the Mukerian thermal plant in Hajipur in Mukerian opposed the construction of the plant. They feared “displacement and the spread of diseases like cancer,” environmental impacts, and agricultural impacts from the power plant. Residents of over 35 villages nearby formed the Kisan Welfare Society to demand the project be moved somewhere else. The Kisan Welfare Society gained the support of various political parties, including the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP).[8]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ VK Gupta, "Power engineers decry govt over Mukerian thermal plant," Punjab State Electrical Board of Engineers' Association (PSEBEA) News, July 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Punjab approves PSPCL’s thermal project proposal," Industry Monitor, October 21, 2011.
- ↑ Terms of Reference for Units 1 & 2, India MoEF, December 10, 2013.
- ↑ Gurpreet Singh Nibber, "PSPCL to set up 1,320-MW power plant at Mukerian," Hindustan Times, May 31, 2013.
- ↑ Jangveer Singh, "State gets 229 million tonne coal block: Thermal plant at Mukerian set to become a reality," The Tribune, July 4, 2013
- ↑ "PSPCL urged to acquire thermal power plant of supercritical technology," Tribune India, Apr 26, 2016
- ↑ Anju Agnihotri Chaba, "Now state will have to pay more to get land for power plant," Indian Express, 29 September 2013
- ↑ “Fearing cancer, Mukerian residents up in arms against thermal plant”, Tribune News Service India, September 10, 2013.
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.
