Obra Thermal Power Station

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Obra Thermal Power Station is an operating power station of at least 1660-megawatts (MW) in Obra Dam, Robertsganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Obra Thermal Power Station Obra Dam, Robertsganj, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh, India 24.4445803, 82.9803325 (exact)

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

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • A Unit 1, A Unit 2, A Unit 3, A Unit 4, A Unit 5, B Unit 10, B Unit 11, B Unit 12, B Unit 13, B Unit 6, B Unit 7, B Unit 8, B Unit 9: 24.4445803, 82.9803325
  • C Unit 14, C Unit 15, D Unit 1, D Unit 2: 24.4445, 82.98

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
A Unit 1 retired coal: bituminous 50 subcritical 1967 2017
A Unit 2 retired coal: bituminous 50 subcritical 1968 2017
A Unit 3 retired coal: bituminous 50 subcritical 1968
A Unit 4 retired coal: bituminous 50 subcritical 1969
A Unit 5 retired coal: bituminous 50 subcritical 1971
B Unit 10 operating coal: bituminous 200 subcritical 1979
B Unit 11 operating coal: bituminous 200 subcritical 1977
B Unit 12 operating coal: bituminous 200 subcritical 1981
B Unit 13 operating coal: bituminous 200 subcritical 1982
B Unit 6 retired coal: bituminous 94 subcritical 1973 2011
B Unit 7 retired coal: bituminous 94 subcritical 1974 2022
B Unit 8 retired coal: bituminous 94 subcritical 1976 2018
B Unit 9 operating coal: bituminous 200 subcritical 1982
C Unit 14 operating[1] coal: unknown 660[1] ultra-supercritical[2] 2024[1]
C Unit 15 construction coal: unknown 660 ultra-supercritical[2] 2025 (planned)
D Unit 1 announced coal: unknown 800 ultra-supercritical 2027 (planned)
D Unit 2 announced coal: unknown 800 ultra-supercritical 2028 (planned)

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner Parent
A Unit 1 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
A Unit 2 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
A Unit 3 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
A Unit 4 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
A Unit 5 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 10 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 11 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 12 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 13 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 6 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 7 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 8 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
B Unit 9 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
C Unit 14 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
C Unit 15 Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100%] Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd [100.0%]
D Unit 1 State of Uttar Pradesh [50%]; NTPC Ltd [50%] NTPC Ltd [50.0%]; State of Uttar Pradesh [50.0%]
D Unit 2 State of Uttar Pradesh [50%]; NTPC Ltd [50%] NTPC Ltd [50.0%]; State of Uttar Pradesh [50.0%]

Project-level coal details

  • Coal source(s): Saharpur Jamarpani mines

Background

The power station comprises the following units:[3]

  • Unit 1 - 50 MW - 1967 - retired in 2017[4]
  • Unit 2 - 50 MW - 1968 - retired in 2017[4]
  • Units 3-5 - each 50 MW - 1968, 1969, 1971 - retired
  • Unit 6 - 100 MW - 1973 - retired
  • Unit 7 - 94 MW (derated) - 1974 - retired[5]
  • Unit 8 - 94 MW - 1975 - retired 2018[6]
  • Unit 9 - 200 MW - 1980
  • Unit 10 - 200 MW - 1979
  • Unit 11 - 200 MW - 1977
  • Unit 12 - 200 MW - 1981
  • Unit 13 - 200 MW - 1982
  • Unit 14 - 660 MW - 2024


A Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report from September 2015 said that Units 3-6 had been retired.[7]

Expansion plans

Obra C

In October 2007, UPRVUNL received a terms of reference for a 2 x 500 MW expansion (units 14-15) of the power station.[8]

In August 2011, the Ministry of Coal listed UPRVUN as proposing a 1,600 MW expansion of the Obra Thermal Power Station.[9] In November 2012, the Expert Appraisal Commiittee (Thermal) of the MoEF received a presentation from project consultant EQMS India and considered the project. The committee was informed that the configuration had been changed from 2x500 MW to 2x660 MW. The committee noted that "the proposal does not involve approval/clearance under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1971 which may be factually incorrect as a notified sanctuary is located in close vicinity." The committee also noted, "It was observed that the green belt development in and around the thermal power station seem dismal and the project proponent seem to have not given any serious attention in developing the same. The Committee therefore decided that the project proponent shall submit a detailed action plan along with budget allocation for development of green belt in a time bound manner and consisting of an in-built monitoring mechanism. The Committee also observed that the project proponent shall submit action plan for ecological restoration of ash dumps for which they may seek the assistance of Dr. C.R. Babu, Member, EAC and Emeritus Professor, University of Delhi. It was also observed that the ash pond seem very close to river and overflow from ash pond during monsoon cannot be ruled out. An action plan for mitigative measures of occurrence of such a case shall therefore be submitted."[10]

In November 2015, UPRVUNL applied for environmental clearance for a 2 x 660 MW expansion. The units would be supercritical.[11] According to the Broad Status report, environmental clearance was obtained on 21 June 2016 and forest clearance was obtained on 30 June 2016. The units are planned for commissioning in 2021.[12]

Construction on the new units began in 2017.[13] Commissioning was planned for 2023.[14][15][16]

The May 2023 Broad Status report estimated that the first unit of Obra-C would be commissioned in September 2023 and the second unit in January 2024.[17] The June 2023 Broad Status predicted that Unit 2 would be commissioned in April 2024.[18] As per November 2023 Broad Status report, commissioning of Unit 1 was pushed back to January 2024 and Unit 2 to June 2024.[19]

The first unit of Obra-C (OBRA-C STPP #1 or Unit 14) was commissioned on February 2, 2024[20] As per the October 2024 Broad Status report, the second unit of Obra-C was expected to be commissioned in 2025.[21]

Obra D

In July 2023, the government of Uttar Pradesh reportedly approved a proposal for a new 1,600 MW addition to the Obra thermal power station: 'Obra-D.' [22][23] The two-unit expansion project was to consist of two new 800 MW-each ultra supercritical coal-fired units, which would be jointly owned by the Uttar Pradesh government and the National Thermal Power Corporation.[22]The project is to be implemented with an investment of ₹17,927 crore (USD 2.16 billion). Both the state government and the NTPC will invest in the project on 50:50 basis and have 30 percent equity while the remaining 70 percent will come from loan.[22]

The two companies had allegedly signed an agreement to build the new units in February 2023 at the Global Investors Summit, in reaction to increased power demand in the previous summer.[23]

In September 2023, NTPC signed a supplementary joint venture agreement with state-owned UPRVUNL to take on joint development of the Obra D project, as well as proposals at Meja Thermal Power Project and Anpara power station. The supplementary agreement amended an original joint venture between the companies in 2008.[24] Reporting in April 2024 announced that an additional amendment to the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) had been signed by NTPC in order to allocate UPRVUNL land for the Obra-D project.[25][26]

News in February 2024 stated that soil testing and ground work was already underway to prepare for construction of Obra-D, although the project had not yet secured environmental permits at the time of reporting.[27] As of September 2024, the project still did not appear to have begun its permitting process with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

Financing

Obra-C: According to Broad Status reports, financial close was achieved in 2013 and then in 2019 for additional amount.[17] A regulatory document from 2024 referred to Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) as the financier, with ₹6,144 crore (ca USD 732 million) sanctioned initially followed by a loan addition of ₹1,146 crore (ca USD 136 million), while the total revised project cost was ₹11,706 crore (ca USD 1.39 billion).[28]

Obra-D: As of 2023, it was anticipated that the project will be implemented at an investment of ₹17,927 crore (USD 2.16 billion). Both the state government and the NTPC will invest in the project on 50:50 basis and have 30 percent equity while the remaining 70 percent will come from loan.[22]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240607185452/https://cea.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/installed/2024/02/IC_Feb_2024allocation_wise.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 07 June 2024. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240218232421/https://cea.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/thermal_broad/2023/11/BS_Nov_2023_V1.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. "Environmental Impact Assessment of proposed 2 x 660 MW Extension Units at Obra Thermal Power Station of M/s UPRVUNL," Pollution Control Research Institute, undated
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Retirement of Power Generating Unit- Intimation of Decommissioning of Unit 1 & 2 (2x50MW) at Obra Thermal Power station, UPRVUNL-reg," India CEA, July 15, 2017
  5. "Installed Capacity," India CEA, October 2022
  6. "Installed Capacity," India CEA, April 2018
  7. REPORT ON REPLACEMENT OF OLD & INEFFICIENT SUB CRITICAL UNITS BY SUPER CRITICAL UNITS/ RETIREMENT /RENOVATION CEA, September 2015
  8. Terms of Reference, India MoEF, Oct 5, 2007
  9. Ministry of Coal, "Pending Application of SEBs Up To 31st July 2011", Government of India, August 2011, page 6.
  10. "MINUTES OF THE 60TH MEETING OF RE-CONSTITUTED EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THERMAL POWER AND COAL MINE PROJECTS," MoEF, November 5-6, 2012
  11. EIA, Pollution Control Research Institute, BHEL, 2015
  12. "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, March 2017
  13. "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, Sep 2017
  14. “Broad Status Report,” Thermal Project Monitoring Division, Central Electricity Authority, November 2021
  15. “Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects,” Central Electricity Authority, May 2022
  16. “Broad Status Report,” Thermal Project Monitoring Division, Central Electricity Authority, November 2022
  17. 17.0 17.1 Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects, Central Electricity Authority, Government of India, May 2023
  18. Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects (June, 2023) Central Electricity Authority, Government of Inida, June 2023
  19. "Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects" (PDF). Central Electricity Authority. November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. All India Installed Capacity (in MW) of Power Stations, CEA, February 29, 2024
  21. Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects (October 2024), Central Electricity Authority, October 2024
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 “U.P. cabinet nod to 1600 MW Obra D power project in Sonbhadra,” Hindustan Times, July 11, 2023
  23. 23.0 23.1 “UP To Get First Ultra-Supercritical Thermal Power Plant, State Cabinet Gives Nod To 1600 MW Project In Sonbhadra,” Swarajya Mag, July 12, 2023
  24. "NTPC Signs Supplementary JV With Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan," The Free Press Journal, September 14, 2023
  25. NTPC signs SJVA with UPRVUNL, Equity Bulls, April 1, 2024
  26. Buzzing Stocks: Infosys, Reliance, HDFC Bank, NTPC, Oberoi Realty, Zomato, TVS, Maruti Suzuki & others, MoneyControl, April 2, 2024
  27. Sonbhadra News: 1600 मेगावाट वाली ओबरा डी को लेकर प्रक्रिया बढ़ी आगे, यूपीआरवीयूएनएल-एनटीपीसी संयुक्त रूप से करेंगे निर्माण, Newstrack, February 11, 2024
  28. "Approval of provisional capital cost and revenue requirement" (PDF). www.uperc.org. February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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.