Babandh power station
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Babandh power station is a cancelled power station in Kharagprasad, Motunga, Dhenkanal, Odisha, India.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Babandh power station | Kharagprasad, Motunga, Dhenkanal, Odisha, India | 20.826425, 85.296478 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Phase I Unit 1, Phase I Unit 2, Phase II Unit 1, Phase II Unit 2: 20.826425, 85.296478
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I Unit 1 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Phase I Unit 2 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Phase II Unit 1 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Phase II Unit 2 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Phase I Unit 1 | LANCO Infratech Ltd [100.0%] |
| Phase I Unit 2 | LANCO Infratech Ltd [100.0%] |
| Phase II Unit 1 | LANCO Infratech Ltd [100.0%] |
| Phase II Unit 2 | LANCO Infratech Ltd [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Rampia Coal Block of MCL
- Permit(s): February 17, 2010 – Environmental Clearance
Background
Lanco Babandh Power proposed setting up a 2,640 MW (4 x 660 MW) coal-fired thermal power station at Khurunti village. The project would be implemented in two phases of 2 x 660 MW in each phase. Coal would be sourced from Mahanadi Coalfields and the captive coal mine at Rampia; and water from Brahmani river.[1]
Phase I: Financial struggles
As of 2014, units 1 and 2 were listed as under construction on the company's website.[2][3] In September 2014, Lanco was reportedly looking to sell the 1,320 MW power station due to company debt.[4]
The two units were expected to be completed in 2017,[5][6][7] later pushed to 2018-2019. Construction was reportedly held up "due to financial constraints",[8] with archival photos showing slow progress from 2013 to 2016 (more below).
In March 2017, the Broad Status Report stated: "Work almost held up due to financial constraint presently."[9]
According to the December 2017 Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country, "Work was held up due to financial constraints, now the work restarted."[10] However, the April 2018 Broad Status had no planned date for the power station, listing it as "stressed".[11]
Liquidation
In 2021, government documents listed the following about Phase I: "Liquidation Order date 27.11.2019; The Liquidator has partially sold the assets of the company on a standalone basis through e-auction."[12]
By the end of 2022, the company had taken away all equipment and machinery from the site and only the chimney was left before being demolished.[13]
Phase II presumed cancelled
As of April 2015, Phase II has yet to receive environmental clearance and was likely abandoned. The project no longer appears on the Lanco Infrastructure website.
Slow construction progress for 3.5 years
As shown in the archival photos below, construction was virtually stalled from April 2013 to December 2016. For other examples of stalled projects, see Troubled Indian Coal Plant Construction Sites.
Opposition
Lanco's proposal to build a power station in Dhenkanal district has been the subject of numerous protests as well as a lawsuit by local residents charging that the project would violate the Land Acquisition Act and the Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act. The suit demands that the land acquired for the project be returned to the residents of the villages of Kharagprasad and Kurunti.[14]
As of 2019, the Environmental Justice Atlas reported that the Babandh power station has faced opposition to the implementation of the power plant. Those opposing include farmers, locals of the Babandh plant neighborhood, Villagers of Kurunti, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and informal workers. They reportedly filed a court case in the High Court of Orissa, Cuttack against the power station, as well as signed a petition with about 10,000 people to send to different political officials, such as the Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of Orissa.[15]
Coal supply delayed
According to a September 2013 news report, the company had not yet entered into a fuel supply pact with Coal India.[16] In January 2013 it was reported that the central government was going to decide on the fate of the plant.[17]
Financing
China Development Bank gave US$200 million Buyers’ Credit for units 3 & 4 (1320 MW) of Lanco Amarkantak Thermal Power Project, the 1320 MW Babandh power station, and the 1320 MW Vidarbha thermal power station being developed by Lanco Group.[18]
In July 2010, Lanco closed an agreement for US$1.18 billion in loan financing from ICICI Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Lakshmi Vilas Bank, Life Insurance Corporation of India, Punjab National Bank, Rural Electrification Corporation, UCO Bank, United Bank of India, IDBI Bank, Union Bank of India, Punjab & Sind Bank and Indian Overseas Bank.[19] Lanco provided US$296.22 million in equity for the project.[20]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Coal linkage panel allows Lanco Babandh to enter pact with CIL," Power projects, September 24, 2013
- ↑ Lanco, "Lanco Babandh Power Ltd ", Lanco website, accessed July 2014
- ↑ Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country, Central Electricity Authority, September 2012
- ↑ "Lanco Infra in talks to sell Rs 3500cr worth Babandh plant," NBC, September 2, 2014
- ↑ Annual report, Lanco, 2014
- ↑ "Supply of coal to Power Plants," India Ministry of Power, July 23, 2015
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, March 2016
- ↑ “Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country,” India Ministry of Power, September 2017
- ↑ "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, March 2017
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, Dec 2017
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, April 2018
- ↑ “Broad Status Report,” Thermal Project Monitoring Division, Central Electricity Authority, November 2021
- ↑ "Dhenkanal: 265-metre high chimney of power plant demolished," New Indian Express, December 20, 2022
- ↑ "Ranjit Nayak & others vs. State of Orissa & others," High Court of Orissa: Cuttack, W.P. (C) No. 27302/2011, accessed February 2012
- ↑ “Lanco Babandh power station, Dhenkanal, Orissa, India”, Environmental Justice Atlas, August 18, 2019.
- ↑ "Power plants like Lanco, DVC yet to sign FSA with Coal India," Economic Times, September 13, 2013
- ↑ "Centre to decide on Lanco’s Orissa project" DNA India, January 23, 2013.
- ↑ "Lanco Infratech to raise US$2 billion from Chinese banks and FIs for power projects," Lanco press release, Nov 26, 2012
- ↑ "Lanco closes Babandh Power financing | News | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ↑ Dhenkanal Thermal Power Plant (1320MW), IJGlobal, May 15, 2017
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
