Paving the way for Reliance Power, NTPC and three other companies to rebid for projects, the Uttar Pradesh power regulator has allowed the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) to seek fresh financial bids for proposed power plants at Bara and Karchhana in Allahabad district. Jindal Steel and Power, JSW Energy and CESC are the other firms that can also submit their revised bids for the two thermal power projects. "All the eligible bidders have been asked to submit their revised financial bids by June 13," sources added.

The first unit of the 500 MW Sipat stage II power project run by the National Thermal power Corporation (NTPC) in Bilaspur district of Chattisgarh went on full load in the presence of Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh. The second 500 MW unit is expected to go fully commercial by October. Both the units use boilers and turbines manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The two 500 MW units form Stage-II of the project, while three super critical 660 MW units form Stage-I.

HIGH ON ASH: NTPC's coal-fired plants produce 40,000 MT of fly ash a day, all of which is recycled as building materal (Pic by Tribhuwan Sharma)

The new projects will produce power only after 2010 One of the biggest challenges UP Chief Minister Mayawati has faced in her first year at the helm is the huge demand-supply gap in power. Understandably, reforms in the power sector top industry's demand. The total generation capacity in the state is about 2,700 Mw. The state buys around 3,000 Mw from the central pool. This falls much short of the peak-hour demand of around 8,000 Mw.

Firm Sets Aside 0.5% Of Profit, Around Rs 30 Cr/Year, For The Purpose Flagship generation utility NTPC will plough 0.5% of its distributable profit

Seeking to secure supply of coal for its upcoming future projects to meet the energy targets, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), has decided to hunt for coal blocks in South Africa, Mozambique and Indonesia. NTPC's aggressive posture for securing fuel supplies comes close on the heels of its competitors in the private sector Reliance Power and Tata Power having secured coal blocks in Indonesia and exploring similar options in other countries.

In an indication of the state of affairs in the Power Ministry, even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's dream project, the 750-MW Bongaigaon power project in Assam, is in a state of neglect after he laid the foundation in January 2006. Work on the Rs. 3,000-crore project being executed by the National Thermal Power Corporation is yet to take off. It was only after Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh cracked the whip last week did the NTPC begin civil works at the site. Personal initiative

India has finally agreed to locate a 500-MW coal-based plant of the National Thermal Power Corporation at Sampur town in Sri Lanka's Trincomalee district. According to reliable sources, New Delhi's decision was conveyed to the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. Though the two countries signed an agreement in December 2006, there was no unanimity on the plant location.

UCIL's bauxite mine project: Assistance from rapid action force was sought to conduct public hearing. No environmental issue was taken up during the hearing

The state-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), which proposes to increase its generation capacity to 50,000 MW by 2012 from the present level of 27,404 MW, has firmed up plans to enter into captive power generation and retail distribution in the upcoming greenfield special economic zones (SEZs). NTPC's move is crucial especially when the centre has so far notified as many as 195 SEZs across the country under the SEZ Act, 2005.