Bihar Ultra Mega Power Project

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Bihar Ultra Mega Power Project is a cancelled power station in Kakwara, Banka, Bihar, India. It is also known as Kakwara Ultra Mega Power Project.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Bihar Ultra Mega Power Project Kakwara, Banka, Bihar, India 24.833324, 86.874819 (approximate)

The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.

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Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
Unit 1 cancelled coal - unknown 4000 unknown

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner
Unit 1 Bihar Mega Power Ltd [100.0%]

Project-level coal details

  • Permit(s): Terms of Reference: 2016-06-07; Terms of Reference extension: 2019

Background

In January 2014 the India Ministry of Power cleared the proposal for a 4,000 MW ultra mega-power project (UMPP) in Banka, expected to be commissioned by 2019-2020. The state would get 2,000 MW. A team from the Ministry and the Power Finance Corporation, along with state government officials, visited two sites to assess the project’s feasibility, and chose the village of Kakwara.[1] According to one report, would be constructed by the Bihar State Power Holding Company Limited.[2] However, the annual report of Power Finance Corporation lists Bihar Mega Power Limited as a 100% subsidiary.[3]

In August 2014 it was reported that the state government would begin work on the project.[4] In May 2015 the state said it was seeking a coal block allocation, which it needs to secure financing for the project.[5]

In March 2016 the India government said it planned to bid out three ultra mega power projects that year: Cheyyur in Tamil Nadu, Bedabahal in Odisha and Kakwara (Banka) in Bihar.[6] According to India's proposed Electricity Plan 2017-2022, fresh bids will be issued on the UMPP after finalization of standard bidding documents by the expert committee.[7]

In June 2016 the project was issued a terms of reference.[8]

In June 2017 Power minister Piyush Goyal said the project's future was uncertain: "The Centre has already identified the coal block for the power plant but any further development on the project would depend on availability of power purchase agreements. Our national exchange has already more power than required and the viability of new power projects would depend on the availability of buyers for the power produced."[9]

In September 2019, the project proponent applied for an extension of validity of ToR, which the Expert Appraisal Committee granted until June 2020 under certain conditions.[10]

As of June 2021, the project had not received any known environmental clearance and plans appeared to be deferred or cancelled.

Articles and Resources

References

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.