Banka Power Project
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Banka Power Project is a cancelled power station in Siriya, Banka, Bihar, India. It is also known as Banka Siraya; Siriya TPP.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Banka Power Project | Siriya, Banka, Bihar, India | 24.714049, 86.958329 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4: 24.714049, 86.958329
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 2 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 3 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 4 | cancelled | coal - unknown | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | JAS Infrastructure and Power Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | JAS Infrastructure and Power Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | JAS Infrastructure and Power Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | JAS Infrastructure and Power Ltd [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Permit(s): June 29, 2011 – Environmental Clearance
Background
Project sponsor Abhijeet Group proposes the project be 2,640 MW (4 X 660 MW). In 2011 the company stated the first stage of the project would comprise two 660MW units with the first to be commissioned by June 2014 and the second online by October 2014.[1]
The Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB) states that a memorandum of understanding was signed with Jas Infrastructure and Power on the 17th October 2007 and that an "addendum" to the MoU was signed in late December 2008 "for enhancing the ultimate capacity to 2640 MW and extending MoU for thirteen months" to February 2011. Under the MoU "BSEB has right to purchase 25% of power from the proposed project."[2]
However, in June 2011 Abhijeet Group informed potential investors that the MOU with the BSEB had expired on March 1, 2011 and "we cannot assure you that such memoranda of understanding will be extended in a timely manner, on terms favourable to us or at all."[3] Abhijeet Group states that "failure to extend this memorandum of understanding could delay or prevent the development of the Banka Power Project" and that "it remains unclear whether JIPL may be required to honour the Bihar State Electricity Board‘s right of first refusal."[3]
The company was granted environmental clearance for the project in 2011.[4]
In 2011 the Bihar State Electricity Board states that the company has requested to expand the project from 2,640 MW to 3,960MW.[2]
In 2013 the Ministry of Power listed the project among "ADDITIONAL PROJECTS FOR LIKELY COMMISSIONING DURING 12TH PLAN," (i.e. 2012 - 2017).[5]
Project sponsor Abhijeet Group states that the first phase is scheduled for commissioning in July 2014,[6] however in April 2014 work on the project was reportedly stalled due to a scandal involving India coal block allocations, called Coalgate.[7]
There has been no updates on the project since April 2014. The project is presumed cancelled.[8]
Water and coal supply
On its website the Abhijeet Group states that it has received approval for "85 million cubic meter from Chandan Dam in Bihar", approximately 7 kilometres from the proposed power station. The company states that the "water required for 1320 MW is approx. 39.50 million cubic meter". The company also states that coal for the project will be sourced from Mahuagarhi coal block, which it states has an "estimated total coal reserves of 220 MMT allotted in 50:50 Joint Venture with CESC." The proposed coal mine is approximately "85 km from power project site" and the company has "also applied for coal linkage for additional coal requirement."[1]
The Mahuagarhi Coal Company Private Limited (MCCPL) is the joint venture company formed with CESC. In its prospectus, Abhijeet states MCCPL "has not yet obtained certain approvals, such as a mining lease and has also not yet prepared the geological report. Any failure by Mahuagarhi Coal to obtain such approvals in a timely manner, or at all, may adversely affect the ability of JIPL to obtain fuel for the Banka Power Project, and in turn, adversely affect our results of operations."[1] The company also notes that while the Ministry of Coal have assessed the deposit as containing 220 million tonnes "we have not conducted an independent analysis to confirm such coal reserves."[3]
The company states that it has submitted an environmental impact statement for the project.[3]
Finance
In its June 2011 prospectus the Abhijeet Group states that "we have received sanction letters / underwriting arrangements for an amount of 74,000.00 million from Axis Bank, Punjab National Bank and UCO Bank."[3]
The viability of the project also hinges on its eligibility of attracting financial credits for the use of supercritical units under the Clean Development Mechanism. In its June 2011 prospectus the company notes that as the Kyoto Protocol is scheduled to expire in 2012 and that a "new framework for implementation of CDM may not be brought into effect immediately. The Banka Power Project is scheduled to be fully commissioned in October 2014 and as a result we may be unable to avail of the CDM benefits which may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations."[3]
On May 26 2011 the Bihar State Investment Promotion Board approved JAS's proposed Banka Power Project.[9]
An earlier report from April stated that BSEB had announced it would invest "INR79,600m ($1,771.12m) in the construction and development" of a 1320MW thermal power project in the Banka district with a commissioning date of 2015. However, the report did not specifically indicate whether this decision related to the Jas Infrastructure and Power Limited proposal or not.[10] Neither the BSEB or Abhijeet Group websites provide recent information on the status of the project.
Opposition
In November 2012, the Times of India reported that Magsaysay Award winner Sandeep Pandey had given his support to farmers agitating against the Banka Power Project under the banner of "Chandan dam Bachao Sangharsh Samiti" at Menka Pahari village, the site of the Baunsi coal block.[11] Awarded each year to honor integrity in public service, the Magsaysay Award is often described as "Asia's Nobel Prize."[12] According to the Times of India article, farmers feared that water from the Chandan dam would be diverted to the power plant at the expense of irrigation in seven blocks of Banka district. Farmers were also upset at being pressured to sell land at below-market prices. According to local activist Umesh Yadav, "About 250 families in the neighbouring villages have already given 785 acres for the project."[11]
Project Abandoned & Liquidation
With no progress after being stalled for over two years, the project was presumed abandoned.
In 2021 documents, the Central Electricity Authority noted the following about the project: "Liquidation Order date 17.07.2020; The liquidator is unable to sell, alienate, transfer or create third party encumbrance on the property of the Corporate Debtor owing to NCLAT Directions. Liquidator is awaiting further directions from NCLAT for completion of the Liquidation process." The project was listed as "Under construction TPP where work is on hold / not likely to be commissioned."[13]
In the May 2023 Broad Status report of the CEA, the project was allegedly still awaiting "further directions from NCLAT for completion of the liquidation process."[14] As per November 2023 Broad Status report, the auction of the assets is kept on hold.[15]
Contact
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Abhijeet Group, "Project Details", Abhijeet Group website, accessed November 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bihar State Electricity Board, "New Projects", Bihar State Electricity Board website, accessed December 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Abhijeet Group, "Abhijeet Power Limited: Draft Red Herring Prospectus", Abhijeet Group, June 2011, page 26.
- ↑ Environmental clearance, India MoEF, June 29, 2011.
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country" Government of India Ministry of Power, November 2013.
- ↑ "Projects under execution," Abhijeet Group, accessed Sep 2014.
- ↑ "Banka-Bhagalpur: The ‘power-house’ of Bihar?" Bihar Times, April 24, 2014
- ↑ "JIPL PLANT BANKA ABHIJEET GROUP," Wikimapia, accessed January 2014
- ↑ "Proposals Approved by State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB)", State Investment Promotion Board website, October 2011.
- ↑ "BSEB To Invest $1,771 Million For Banka Thermal Power Plant In Bihar", ResearchViews, April 14 2011.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Pranava K Chaudhary, "Maysaysay award winner opposes Banka power plant," Times of India, Nov 28, 2012
- ↑ "Ramon Magsaysay Award," Wikipedia accessed May 2014
- ↑ “Thermal Broad Status Reports,” Central Electricity Authority, November 2021
- ↑ “Broad Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects,” Central Electricity Authority, May 2023
- ↑ "Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects" (PDF). Central Electricity Authority. November 2023.
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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.
