NTPC receive huge boost with expectation of coal production at six blocks by 2017

State-run power major NTPC said it expects to start production at its six coal blocks by 2017, which will help it secure an additional 40 million tonne of captive coal.

The six coal blocks include Pakri Barwadih, Chatti-Bariatu, Kerandari, and Chatti-Bariatu (South) in Jharkhand; Tallaipali in Andhra and Dulanga in Odisha.

“One of the mines in Jharkhand is expected to start production this year. We expect to start production in all the six mines by 2017,” NTPC Technical Director A K Jha told reporters on the sidelines of an event here.

He said, once these six mines start production, the company will be able to add nearly 40 million tonnes of capacity for captive use.

Last year, the Coal Ministry had cancelled allocation of five blocks — Chatti Bariatu, Chatti Bariatu (South), Kerandari, Brahmani and Chichiro Patsimal — to NTPC as it could not develop the mines within the stipulated timeframe.

However, in January, the ministry decided to return the Chatti Bariatu, Chatti Bariatu (South) and Kerandari coal blocks to the nation’s largest utility.

Jha further said the 800-mw Kol Dam hydel project in Himachal is expected to be commissioned this fiscal.

Besides, he said that NTPC was planning to commission 100 mw of solar power projects this year.

“We are setting up solar power projects in different states, which are at various stages of development. We expect to commission nearly 100 mw by March next,” Jha said.

It is setting up 50 mw solar plant at Raigarh in Madhya Pradesh, 5 mw at Faridabad (Harayana), 10 mw at Talcher (Odisha), 10 mw at Unchahar and 25 mw at Singrauli (UP) and 25 mw in Ramagundam (Andhra).