Bhubaneswar: Power major NTPC on Wednesday agreed to jointly develop a 2,400 MW thermal power plant in Dhenkanal district with state-owned Odisha Thermal Power Corporation.

NTPC CMD Arun Roy Choudhury, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during the day, said Odisha was important for NTPC. "We are expanding projects in the state. The chief minister has suggested that we take up some projects."

The NTPC CMD said "We have been mandated to set up solar power projects of 3,000 MW across the state ... As Odisha is important state, we are keen for that too."

The company, he said, has already agreed to set up a 1,000 MW solar power station in Andhra Pradesh, a 750 MW one in Madhya Pradesh and also in Rajasthan and Telangana.

During the meeting it was also decided that NTPC would be a partner in OTPCL's proposed 2400 (3x800) MW coal fired power plant to be set up at an investment of Rs 10,000. The proposed unit would be set up at Kamakshyanagar in Dhenkanal distict, a release from the chief minister's office said.

"We expect a joint venture between OTPCL and NTPC soon," said a senior official of the Odisha energy department, ho was present at the meeting.

OTPCL, a 50:50 joint venture between state owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), has hit a roadblock as both companies lack expertise to implement the project prompting the government to look for a strategic partner.

NTPC was therefore urged for partcipation in the project and it agreed today, the official said adding the state government has decided to adopt the ultra mega power plant (UMPP) model and induct a strategic partner through competitive tariff bidding for 25 years.

OTPCL's proposed project required 1969.78 acres of which 987.77 acre is government land, 83.94 acre forest land and 982.015 acre private land. The state government has already accorded administrative approval for acquisition of 982.01 acres of private land at the project site.

OTPCL has already got water allocation from the department of water resources, he said.

State Energy Minister Prabab Prakash Das said the state government also suggested to Roy Choudhury to expand the UMPP project at Darlipali in Sundergarh district besides setting up the solar power projects in Odisha.

During the discussion Patnaik also suggested to the NTPC CMD to assist the state in its bid to set up a model school in CBSE patern in each block.

"The state expects NTPC to set up at least 70 model schools in different blocks," he said adding that the chief minister also suggested that the company set up a world class industrial training institute in Ganjam district.

Roy Choudhury said NTPC was committed to the medical college hospital project in Sundergarh and would spend Rs 350 crore for it.

"We have already assigned designing work for the medical college project to a reputed contractor," he added.
Source : ZeeNews