Punjab is expected to see its first
private sector power project
getting operational early next year.
The northern state so far relied on state
government-owned projects and the
state's share from Centrally-owned
power plants. The presence of private
sector is currently limited to a few
plants based on renewable energy
sources.
According to reliable information, the
first unit of the 3x660-mw Talwandi
Saboo project is slated to begin
commercial operations in April 2013.
The official inauguration is expected to
be held on April 13, 2013, to coincide
with the auspicious "Baisakhi" day. The
1,980-mw plant using supercritical
technology is being developed by the
Vedanta Resources (Sterlite) Group
under tariff-based competitive bidding.
Meanwhile, the 2x270-mw Goindwal
Sahib thermal power project being
developed by the GVK Group is
scheduled to commission by May next
year. This is Punjab's first project to be
developed on IPP basis and was awarded
way back in May 1998. The coal-fired
project will sell power to Punjab State
Electricity Board under a 25-year power
purchase agreement. Coal will be
sourced from GVK Group's Tokisud and
Seregarha captive mines in Jharkhand.
Untitled Document
UPCOMING PRIVATE POWER PROJECTS IN PUNJAB |
SPV |
Project |
District |
Developer |
Capacity |
Nabha Power Ltd |
Rajpura |
Patiala |
L&T |
2x700-mw |
GVK Power Goindwal Sahib Ltd* |
Goindwal Sahib |
Taran Taran |
GVK Group |
2x270-mw |
Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd |
Talwandi Sabo |
Mansa |
Vedanta |
3x660-mw |
*IPP; others are through tariff-based bidding route |
Towards the end of 2013, the 2x700-
mw Rajpura supercritical power plant is
also expected to begin commercial
operations. Being developed by Larsen
& Toubro, this project won on tariff based
bidding, represents L&T's foray in
commercial power generation.
To expedite power evacuation, Power
Grid Corporation of India is building a
series of 400kV lines to connect the
Talwandi Sabo plant to Nakodar,
Muktsar, Mastewal and Bala Chak.
As of August 31, 2012, Punjab had
installed power generation capacity of
7,143 mw. Punjab State Power
Generation Company, accounted for 72
per cent of this capacity while the state's
share in Central government projects
stood at 26 per cent. The remaining
came from grid-connected renewable
energy plants in the private sector.