Expansion of Visakh Refinery, setting up of Greenfield refinery near Visakhapatnam on the agenda

State-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited is keen on expediting the process for its Rs.60,000-crore investment plan for expansion of Visakh Refinery and setting up of a Greenfield refinery near the city.

Superstitions reign supreme in tribal hamlets in Odisha’s Malkangiri district

Silence greets visitors at the Potrel and Usakapalli hamlets in Korukonda block of Odisha’s Malkangiri district. These hamlets border Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. After 24 children aged below five died of a disease suspected to be Japanese encephalitis in less than two months, tribal people — mostly the primitive Koyas — are under the grip of fear of “evil spirits.” They are exposed to poor sanitary conditions as their houses are located near cow and pig sheds. Despite that they believe that these spirits are responsible for snatching away the lives of their young.

Talks on with APIIC to identify suitable site for the project

India’s major power producer National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has decided to launch a fresh initiative to speed up work for establishing 4,000 MW coal-fired Greenfield power project near Visakhapatnam. Having completed the full design capacity of 2,000 MW with Unit 4 (500 MW) going commercial on September 30, NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Plant at Parawada has no space for further expansion. Hinduja National Power Company Ltd is in advanced stage of commissioning a 1,040 MW power plant at Palavalasa, close to Simhadri.

The 500 MW Unit-4 of NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Project at Parawada near here has started commercial operations – six months after it went on stream -- even as the company is set to breathe easy with improvement in coal supply position.

The company, which has 500x4 MW units as part of Stage-I and II of the Rs.10,000-crore project, is set to overcome coal shortage with the State government agreeing to supply 7,000 tonnes per day in addition to the early availability of 3,500 tonnes from Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL).