Chhattisgarh to get 1,500 Mw more power by 2012

The Chhattisgarh government will add 1,500 Mw of power generation capacity by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) with the commissioning of two power projects that are being set up by the state-run Chhattisgarh State Power Generation Company (CSPGC).

This addition will enhance Chhattisgarh's total power capacity to 3,494 Mw. It would not only help the state maintain power surplus status with rising demand for energy but also augment the generation capacity in the thermal sector in the state endowed with rich coal deposits.

The state is looking forward to certain projects, the most significant of which is the 1,000 Mw Marwa-Tendubhata Thermal Power Project coming up in Janjgir-Champa district. The project is expected to be commissioned by November 2012 though the first unit is likely to go on stream in September 2012.The project includes the expansion of Korba West Thermal Power project (unit 3), which is expected to be commissioned by June 2012. The unit's generation capacity will be of 500 MW.

The state government is willing to complete the work before the stipulated time, Chief Minister Raman Singh said. This would make the zero-power cut state of Chhattisgarh more prosperous in terms of energy, he added.The projects are coming up with an investment of Rs 6,295 crore. The mechanical and civil works of both the projects are in progress. Besides public sector Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), two private companies, namely BGR Energy Systems Limited and Techpro Systems Limited, had been awarded contracts for both the projects.During non-peak hours, Chhattisgarh has 150-200 Mw surplus power.

The power generation capacity of CSPGC at present is 1994 Mw which will add 3494 Mw with the commissioning of both the projects by the end of 2012, state's power secretary Aman Singh said.

The two projects are the first ones to be set up by the public sector company after the inception of the state in November 2000.