Udupi power station
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Udupi power station is an operating power station of at least 1200-megawatts (MW) in Padubidri Industrial Area, Udupi, Karnataka, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Udupi power station | Padubidri Industrial Area, Udupi, Udupi, Karnataka, India | 13.1596, 74.8002 (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: 13.1596, 74.8002
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | operating | coal: unknown | 600 | supercritical | 2010 |
| Unit 2 | operating | coal: unknown | 600 | supercritical | 2011 |
| Unit 3 | permitted[1] | coal: unknown | 800 | supercritical | – |
| Unit 4 | permitted[1] | coal: unknown | 800 | supercritical | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Adani Power Ltd [100%] | Adani Power Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Adani Power Ltd [100%] | Adani Power Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Adani Power Ltd [100%] | Adani Power Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Adani Power Ltd [100%] | Adani Power Ltd [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Permit(s): Environmental Clearance; Transfer of Environmental Clearance: 2023-06-26; Terms of Reference: 2019-10-10; Terms of Reference: 2015-08-13; NGT Order: 2022-05-31[1]
Background
The power station was built by Lanco and owned by Udupi Power Corporation Ltd. (UPCL). It is based on imported coal. The configuration of the operating plant is as follows:[2]
- Unit 1 - 600 MW - 2010
- Unit 2 - 600 MW - 2011
According to the India Central Electricity Authority, the second unit of the plant was given an augmented capacity of 600 MW (original capacity was 507.5 MW) that was commissioned on April 16, 2011.[3]
UPCL entered into 25-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Karnataka Discoms for 90% of its total generation capacity (1,080 MW) and with Punjab State Power Corporation Limited for 101.50 MW. They also have a 25-year PPA with MPSEZ Utilities Private Limited for 11 MW of capacity.[4]
Expansion: Units 3 and 4
The company received a terms of reference in 2010 for units 3 & 4, each 660 MW.[5] The company received Terms of Reference for the project on August 11, 2010.[6]
No further permits were sought, as Lanco faced financial difficulties and protests against the expansion.
Adani buys plant, revives expansion
In July 2014 Lanco sold the power station to Adani Power. According to news sources, "the Udupi plant’s capacity is likely to be ramped up soon by another 1,320 MW, with fuel linkages being discussed."[7]
On August 13, 2015, Adani received a terms of reference for a units 3 and 4 of 800 MW each.[8] They would be supercritical and use imported coal.[9][10] In the EIA, released December 2016, Adani said it is debating between super and ultra-supercritical technology for the plant.[11]
Environmental Clearance
Environmental clearance was granted for two 800 MW supercritical units on August 1, 2017.[12] In June 2018 Adani signed a concession agreement with New Mangalore Port Trust for an additional 4.99 hectares of land for the expansion project.[13]
NGT ruling: Illegal Clearances
In March 2019, the principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) at New Delhi declared “illegal” all clearances granted to proposed expansion of the plant. The NGT noted that the “genuinely serious” issues raised by the villagers and petitioner had not been given due attention by the concerned authorities including the government, and said environmental clearance had been granted without following due process prescribed by the law.[14]
New permitting process
On August 12, 2019, Adani Udupi wrote to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, seeking a new terms of reference (ToR) for the expansion of the project.[15] The new terms of reference was granted on October 10, 2019.[16]
The Terms of Reference and NGT had, in part, directed the state government to conduct a carrying capacity study (14-March-2019 and 14-October-2019 Orders).[14]
An Interim Report on environmental carrying capacity of Udupi taluk was conducted by the Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) and reportedly released in early 2021.[17]
The Final Assessment Report was released in December 2021, and concluded the following (in part):[18]
- "Expansion of the capacity of the power plant is likely to have adverse implications from air pollution including dust, marine ecology, and groundwater and soil contamination from heavy metals. Inadequate/non-functional environmental management practices/facilities followed/established by UPCL need corrective actions before expansion plan is considered. It is felt that additional studies, for example on the effect of coal dust on agricultural crops; dust fall and its impacts; implications of the violation of CRZ notification rules for marine biodiversity; and, impacts of air pollution and water contamination on the health of villagers; would be useful for better socio-ecological and economic outcomes."
(For additional information, see Appeal Number 86 of 2017 (SZ), Janajagrithi Samithi, Karnataka Vs Union of India.)
May 2022 NGT Ruling
On May 31, 2022, the National Green Tribunal imposed a hefty penalty of over Rs 52 crore (US $6.7 million) on the plant for violating environmental rules. Based upon its finding that the Adani Group’s environmental management of Udupi has been inadequate, the tribunal has directed India’s Union Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to conduct a more stringent impact assessment before approving the project’s expansion. The tribunal has directed the MoEF&CC to take the Carrying Capacity Study into account while considering the application for approval of the project’s expansion by issuing additional terms of reference for the environmental impact assessment study. It said the terms of reference should include an assessment of the proposed expansion’s impacts on socio-economic conditions, taking into account past violations and pollution of agricultural land. It called for the precautionary principle to be applied by those bodies considering the approval.[19]
In August 2022, just before the deadline, Adani submitted a challenge to the tribunal's judgement. However, the Supreme Court cited defects in their appeal and requested a revised petition to be submitted within 90 days.[20]
As of late October 2022, a revised petition had not been submitted and the contents of the appeal were unknown. Any payment from Adani was still on hold.[20] In Adani's November 2022 Financial Statement, it declared that in 2022, "UPCL has made expense provision in the books oft 47.02 Crores on conservative basis and is in process of filing the appeal with the Hon'ble Supreme Court."[21]
Future of expansion uncertain in 2023 and 2024
In February 2023, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the merger of Udupi Power Corporation – as well as Adani Power Maharashtra, Adani Power Rajasthan, Raipur Energen, Raigarh Energy Generation and Adani Power (Mundra) – with Adani Power, a unit of the Adani Group.[22][23]
That month, the project proponent submitted an application to transfer the environmental clearance for the 1,200 MW plant and 1,600 MW expansion to Adani Power.[24][25] The application implied the plant and expansion were permitted, but the expansion was still presumed announced given related developments.
In June 2023, the MoEF&CC transferred the environmental clearances for the existing power plant and proposed expansion to Adani Power, without waiting for a Supreme Court decision on Adani's appeal.[26][27] A summary note from Adani's May 2024 Board Meeting stated the following regarding the company's appeal against the 2022 court ruling: "The Company has recognised expense provision of R47.02 Crores in the books on a conservative basis, although, the Company has filed petition with the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 26th August, 2022 against the above referred NGT order."[28]
As of September 2024, construction of the expansion units did not appear to have begun based on available information.
Coal supply
The Udupi power station has a captive jetty of 4 million tonnes per annum, and an external coal handling system located at the New Mangalore Port in Mangalore, Karanataka.[29]
June 2011: Protesters block railway to protest coal transportation to Udupi power station
On June 1, 2011, activists with the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) blocked the Mangalore-Mumbai Matsyagandha Express train for 10 minutes in Nandikoor, Karnataka. The purpose of the protest was to show opposition to the transportation of coal by railway from the New Mangalore Port to the Udupi station. According to the activists, a condition for the environmental clearance granted to the plant was that coal would be transported through a closed conveyer system. Transportation in open railroad cars was producing damage to crops, agricultural land, drinking water, and public health, according to the activists.[30] Local resident Sundari Shetti complained, “The house is always coated with a thick layer of ash. I have difficulty in breathing and the constant drone of Lorries transporting fly ash way into the midnight has affected my health.” Village panchayat president Sunil Raj Shetty said that no permission had been sought from the local administration before giving the ash pond the green signal. He said, “It used to be a fresh water lake - the Daddikere Lake.”[31]
Incidents
In July 2023, one worker died and three others were injured on the power station’s premises when a beam collapsed during demolition of an old fuel gas structure.[32]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20240219012311/https://environmentclearance.nic.in/DownloadPfdFile.aspx?FileName=wyfDfkD4WyDFwYl1a1gBxQO/QBUSUeKkmlDKsEZ0LRA8HCcA97leedRFt+EN+KTpuwGed+nortIhF7Tl53ZKQuPp3Wojyw4Bqg3s2oEbvvC9Ynysy416NQF6lf67X94DJoSIUKT6JZ8sv123uaBzzWtgd1sgsPP9afFkp1FT1uo=&FilePath=93ZZBm8LWEXfg+HAlQix2fE2t8z/pgnoBhDlYdZCxzXexvxowP1RqCCFggm9z4cze0aHaw/RdzreIfZMWGjPhT9vGeBrIIZNi23EOhMzc0FHouFeYW2CwTxe5VsAp/aF2sFvzYq3DKlUgjbe+kV3ZSxyivwbTnaPj1tMMdE+EMw=. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Lanco, "Power", Lanco website, accessed July 2011.
- ↑ "India Central Electricity Authority Monthly Report," India Central Electricity Authority, April 2011.
- ↑ "Udupi Power Corporation Limited," CARE Ratings, October 29, 2021
- ↑ "Pending Application of IPPs up to July 31, 2011," Ministry of Coal
- ↑ "J-13012/73/2010 - IA. II (T)," Ministry of Environment and Forests, August 11, 2010
- ↑ "With Udupi plant under belt, Adani Power’s installed capacity to cross 10440 MW," The Hindu, August 2014.
- ↑ Terms of reference, India MoEF, Aug 13, 2015
- ↑ Cover letter for Form 1," Adani, May 15, 2015
- ↑ "Adani’s Udupi power plant to add 1600 MW by 2020," The Hindu, Sep 1, 2016
- ↑ "EIA," Adani Power, Dec 2016
- ↑ Environmental Clearance, India MoEF, Aug 1, 2017
- ↑ "Adani Power arm gets more land at NMPT for project expansion," The Hindu, June 15, 2018
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Clearance for UPCL expansion project 'illegal': NGT," Deccan Herald, March 15, 2019
- ↑ "Amid NGT riders, Adani UPCL revives expansion bid," deccanherald.com, August 30, 2019
- ↑ of reference, India MoEF, October 10, 2019
- ↑ "Interim Report," Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), 2021
- ↑ "Final Assessment Report: Environmental Carrying Capacity study for expansion of 2 X 600 MW Udupi Power Plant," Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), December 2021
- ↑ "‘Gross environmental mismanagement’: Adani’s Udupi coal-power plant fined over US $6 million," Adani Watch, June 24, 2022
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Adani appeals against US $6.7-million fine at Udupi," Adani Watch, October 24, 2022
- ↑ "Outcome of the Board Meeting held on 3rd August 2022 and Submission of Unaudited Financial Results," Adani Power, November 2022
- ↑ "Adani Power receives NCLT nod for amalgamation of 6 subsidiaries with company," Live Mint, February 9, 2023
- ↑ "Annexure 1: Scheme of Amalgamation," Notice: Unsecured Creditors, meeting November 2, 2022
- ↑ "Application for Transfer of Environmental Clearance," Parivesh, Proposal No. : IA/KA/THE/297953/2023, accessed May 2023
- ↑ "Undertaking on behalf of Adani Power Limited," Adani, February 25, 2023
- ↑ "Transfer of Environmental Clearance," India Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, June 26, 2023
- ↑ "Questions over green nod transfer to Adani firm," Deccan Herald, September 15, 2023
- ↑ Outcome of the Board Meeting held on May 1, 2024 and Submission of Audited Financial Results (Standalone and Consolidated) for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2024, Adani Power, May 1, 2024
- ↑ "Adani completes Lanco’s INR 6,300-cr. Udupi power plant deal," Exim News Service, May 4, 2015
- ↑ "KRRS protests against Konkan Railway for transporting coal to UPCL," The Hindu, June 2, 2011
- ↑ Garima Goel, "Part 1: The arrogant neighbor," The Manipal Journal, March 22, 2011
- ↑ "Labourer dies during demolition of building at Adani power plant in Udupi," The New Indian Express, July 29, 2023
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.
