Ramagundam power station

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Ramagundam power station is an operating power station of at least 4200-megawatts (MW) in Ramagundam, Karimnagar, Telangana, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Telangana super thermal power project (Stage IV Units 8-9, Stage V Units 10-12), Telangana TPP (Stage IV Units 8-9, Stage V Units 10-12).

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name	Location	Coordinates (WGS 84)
Ramagundam power station	Ramagundam, Ramagundam, Karimnagar, Telangana, India	18.7584502, 79.4573172 (exact)

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

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

• Stage I Unit 1, Stage I Unit 2, Stage I Unit 3, Stage II Unit 4, Stage II Unit 5, Stage II Unit 6, Stage III Unit 7: 18.7584502, 79.4573172
• Stage IV Unit 8, Stage IV Unit 9, Stage V Unit 10, Stage V Unit 11, Stage V Unit 12: 18.7510273, 79.4721746

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	Start year
Stage I Unit 1	operating	coal: bituminous	200	subcritical	1983
Stage I Unit 2	operating	coal: bituminous	200	subcritical	1984
Stage I Unit 3	operating	coal: bituminous	200	subcritical	1984
Stage II Unit 4	operating	coal: bituminous	500	subcritical	1988
Stage II Unit 5	operating	coal: bituminous	500	subcritical	1989
Stage II Unit 6	operating	coal: bituminous	500	subcritical	1989
Stage III Unit 7	operating	coal: bituminous	500	subcritical	2005
Stage IV Unit 8	operating	coal: unknown	800	supercritical	2023
Stage IV Unit 9	operating	coal: unknown	800	supercritical	2024
Stage V Unit 10	pre-permit	coal: unknown	800	supercritical	–
Stage V Unit 11	pre-permit	coal: unknown	800	supercritical	–
Stage V Unit 12	pre-permit	coal: unknown	800	supercritical	–

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner	Parent
Stage I Unit 1	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage I Unit 2	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage I Unit 3	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage II Unit 4	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage II Unit 5	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage II Unit 6	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage III Unit 7	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage IV Unit 8	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage IV Unit 9	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage V Unit 10	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage V Unit 11	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]
Stage V Unit 12	NTPC Ltd [100%]	NTPC Ltd [100.0%]

Background

Ramagundam power station is owned and operated by the National Thermal Power Corporation. It consists of the following units:

• Stage I (3x200MW)
• Stage II (3x500MW)
• Stage III (1x500MW)

On July 1, 2011, Singareni Collieries Co. Ltd. (SCCL) started the $190-million construction phase of the Adriyala coal project, in the southern Indian province of Andhra Pradesh. The project would aim to extract some 2.81-million tons a year of coal from estimated reserves of 54.36-million tons, located in the Karimnagar district of the southern state. The entire production from the Adriyala coal mine will be linked to the Ramagundam power station. SCCL and NTPC agreed to a long-term plan under which the coal miner would ensure supplies of five-million tons a year of thermal grade coal to the power producer.

Ramagundam power station Stage IV (Telangana Super Thermal Power Station Phase I)

NTPC originally planned to expand the power station by 1,000 MW. In 2010 NTPC received a terms of reference toward Ramagundam Stage IV, which would consist of two units of 500 MW each.

In January 2014 NTPC said it was planning to take up expansion of Ramagundam project, with potential to set up two projects of 1,320 MW, subject to coal linkages.

In July 2014 NTPC said it planned to commence work on the first unit of a proposed 4,000 MW (5×800) power plant at Ramagundam immediately, with the first unit to be completed within 39 months. The new plant, Telangana power station, was expected to come up adjacent to NTPC’s existing 2,600 mw plant at Ramagundam.

In September 2014 NTPC received a terms of reference for two units of 660 MW each (Stage IV, Phase I). In December 2014 NTPC received a revised terms of reference for a 2 x 800 MW plant.

An EIA was completed in June 2015, and that month NTPC applied for environmental clearance (EC). EC was granted on January 20, 2016.

In February 2016 NTPC said construction would begin soon. However, the October 2016 Broad Status report reported construction would start in March 2017. Commercial operation is planned for 2020-2021.

The foundation stone was laid in August 2016, and in April 2017 concrete work on the coal plant began. In December 2017 boiler erection began on the two units.

In January 2023 it was reported that construction of the first unit was complete.

While a news article in March 2023 stated that commissioning of Unit 1 was "under process" and that the unit was "being stabilised gradually," the May 2023 Broad Status reported that Unit 1 was anticipated to run final trials in June 2023, with an estimated COD of July 2023. The same Broad Status report provided a September 2023 estimated COD for Unit 2 of Phase I (Ramagundam power station Stage IV).

The June 2023 Broad Status report predicted Units 1 and 2 to run trials in July and September 2023, respectively. In the Central Electricity Authority's September 2023 Installed Capacity report, it was noted that Unit 1 had been commissioned and added to the grid. The November 2023 Broad Status report confirmed commissioning of Units 1 in September 2023 while Unit 2 was plan to start operations in February 2024.

In early January 2024, the agenda for the Expert Appraisal Committee's January 2024 meeting stated that an amendment in the EC of Stage IV of the Ramagundam power station (or Stage I of the Telangana Super Thermal Power Plant) would be considered in the upcoming meeting. During the January 2024 EAC meeting, the proposal was deferred, as the committee decided that a site visit was necessary.

In February 2024, the second 800 MW unit of Telangana Phase I (Ramagundam Stage IV) was commissioned. Despite both units of Phase I (Ramagundam Stage IV) already operating commercially, the project's EC was still in dispute in April 2024. In the EAC's April 2024 meeting minutes, the Committee noted problems with the project's fly ash disposal system and the EC proposal was returned in its present form without approval.

Significant rulings

In May 2021, the National Green Tribunal held in abeyance the environmental clearance of the 2 X 800 MW project. NTPC was directed to conduct a slew of fresh studies before it can begin operation of the plant.

In July 2021, the Supreme Court of India upheld the National Green Tribunal ruling requiring detailed studies of the environmental impacts of power projects. The most important takeaway from the ruling was that the cumulative impact – i.e. the combined impact of all activities in a given region, including past, present and prospective ones – must be assessed before a new project is approved or during its construction – and not once it has been built. The ruling allowed NTPC to continue construction, but upheld the need for a detailed set of studies. The Supreme Court also directed that the environmental clearance already granted should be kept in abeyance until the mandatory studies are completed and their results have been assessed by an expert committee of the Union environment ministry.

However, in June 2022, the Thermal Expert Appraisal committee recommended the proposal for grant of amendment in environmental clearance for the expansion following additional specific ash pond conditions.

According to the November 2021 Broad Status Report and media reports, the units were expected by March and July 2023.

Financing

Units 8-9: In 2016, NTPC accorded investment approval for Telangana Super Thermal Power Project, Phase-1 (2x800 MW) at estimated cost of Rs. 10,598.98 crore. June 2023 Broad Status report states that financial close for Units 1 and 2 of Telangana Super (aka Units 8 and 9) was achieved on the same date in January 2016. It therefore appeared that these units were financed by NTPC.

Ramagundam power station Stage V (Telangana Super Thermal Power Station Phase II)

According to a March 2017 report, the NTPC board of directors has approved the feasibility report for TSTPP Phase II (3 x 800 MW).

In May 2019 it was reported that the second phase of Telangana Super Thermal Power Station was on hold. The State Government said it would take an “appropriate decision at the right time” depending on the requirement of power in Telangana and the cost of energy from the plant. According to the statement, the cost of energy from the project would be comparably high since the Government of India had allotted coal from Madakini-B coal block in Odisha to the plant: “As the coal has to be transported for 950 km., the distance between the coal block and the power plant, the cost of power generation would be high,” the officials said.

As of May 2023, the Phase II extension of Telangana Super Thermal Power Station had not evidently made any progress and had made no appearances in the news. There was also no evidence from the MOEF of beginning permitting applications for the three additional 800 MW units. Without any progress since being placed on hold (shelved) in 2019, the Stage V extension was presumed cancelled in mid-2023.

However, development of the Telangana expansion Phase II (Ramagundam power station Stage V) appeared to be revived in February 2024, when the project was granted fresh Terms of Reference (ToR) by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC). The expansion was formally granted ToR on April 10, 2024.

In August 2024, NTPC issued a tender for the “Design, Engineering, Manufacture, Supply, Construction, Erection, Testing & Commissioning” of Telangana STPP Phase II.

Coal supply

In September 2015 the coal ministry allocated Mandikini B coal block in Odisha to NTPC for the full 4,000 MW power station.

Public opposition

In May 2015 locals voiced their concerns at the environmental public hearing for the plant conducted by the Telangana State Pollution Control Board. Land oustees of the project – residents of Khajipalli, Mallialpalli, Kundanpalli, Shalapalli, Elkalapali, Medipalli, Laxmipuram, Kannala, Brahmanapalli villages and other adjoining villages - called on NTPC management provide employment to them, saying NTPC had acquired their land 35 years ago and failed to provide employment. They also sought permanent developmental works in their villages such as provision of water, roads, hospitals and other amenities, and urged the NTPC management to accord priority to environmental protection.

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.