Chandrapur Thermal Power Station
| Part of the Global Coal Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Related coal trackers: |
Chandrapur Thermal Power Station is an operating power station of at least 2920-megawatts (MW) in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Chandrapur Thermal Power Station | Chandrapur, Chandrapur, Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India | 20.0063, 79.29 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8, Unit 9: 20.0063, 79.29
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Retired | coal: bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1983 | 2016 |
| Unit 2 | Retired | coal: bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1984 | 2016 |
| Unit 3 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1985 | – |
| Unit 4 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1986 | – |
| Unit 5 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 500 | subcritical | 1991 | – |
| Unit 6 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 500 | subcritical | 1992 | – |
| Unit 7 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 500 | subcritical | 1997 | – |
| Unit 8 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 500 | subcritical | 2015 | – |
| Unit 9 | Operating | coal: bituminous | 500 | subcritical | 2016 | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 7 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 8 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 9 | Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd [100%] | MSEB Holding Co Ltd [100.0%] |
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Financing
Source of financing: Units 8-9: US$899.93 million in debt from the Sugar Development Fund, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corp, and World Bank; US$99.99 million in equity from Mahagenco[1]
Background
The power station is owned by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MSPGCL), a Maharashtra government owned company.[2]
The original power station comprised Units 1-4 (210MW each) and units 5-7 (500MW each).[2]
Units 1-2 were retired in 2016, after units 8-9 went online.[3]
Unit 8-9 Expansion
In 2014 a 1000MW expansion of the plant was underway with the addition of 2 x 500MW units (units 8-9).[4] Units 8 & 9 were expected to be commissioned by June 2014 and January 2015 respectively,[5] later pushed to November 2014 for unit 8 and March 2015 for unit 9.[6]
Unit 8 was synchronized in January 2015 and planned for commissioning in March 2015.[7] Unit 8 completed a trial run in May 2015.[8]
According to the India Ministry of Power, Unit 9 is planned for June 2015,[9] later pushed to January 2016.[10] It was commissioned in March 2016.[11]
Coal supply
In April 2015 Western Coalfields Limited agreed to supply coal to the new Chandrapur unit 8 on a temporary basis until it gets a permanent linkage. Of the six recently commissioned units by Mahagenco, there is no permanent linkage for five of them, as Mahagenco's captive mines in Odisha - Machchhakatta and Mahanadi - have been de-allocated following the orders of Supreme Court.[12]
Financing for Units 8-9
It has been reported that the Sugar Development Fund, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corp, and World Bank would provide US$899.93 million in loans to the project and Mahagenco would provide US$99.99 million in equity.[1]
Opposition and impact
In February 2014, the NGO Green Plant Society filed a complaint with the regional office of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) demanding to the closure of the Chandrapur power station. They argue that the power plant has created black smoke and visible air pollution, exceeding their allowed emission norm of 100 ug/m3. On December 17, 2013, the Green Plant Society had reportedly filed a similar complaint, where the MPCB found in favor of the NGO. Nevertheless, the MPCB did not take any action against the power plant after that complaint.[13]
By February 28, 2013, a report from the MPCB found that the Chandrapur Super Thermal power plant had violated pollution control standards every day for over three years. Environmental expert, Naresh Dahegaonkar, expressed serious concern over the health damages of the air pollution on local residents.[14]
By August 20, 2016, Chandrapur Police had registered a criminal offence against the officials in charge of Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station (CSTPS) for “negligent act with a potential to cause damage to human life.” Activists, including the Green Planet and Eco-pro, had brought the manner to politicians and police.[15]
In May 2025, a report by Vikalp Social Organisation noted that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had found several previous environmental violations by the Chandrapur Thermal Power Station, including runoff from coal storage entering drainage areas, fly ash dumped in an embankment polluting waterways, and ambient air quality exceeding national standards. The NGT subsequently directed the authorities to conduct health impact studies and remediate the air and water pollution. In addition, the NGT imposed an interim penalty of Rs 5 crore (US$567,000) on the power station and another Rs 1 crore (US$113,000) per month for continued pollution. The NGT’s order was later stayed by the Supreme Court.[16][17]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Preview of Chandrapur Thermal Power Plant Expansion (1000MW) | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Maharashtra State Power Generation Company, "Installed Capacity", Maharashtra State Power Generation Company website, accessed November 2011.
- ↑ "Retirement of old & inefficient thermal units by supercritical units- Decommissioning & retirement of Mahagenco's 2*210MW units -1 & 2 of CSTPS Chandrapur," India CEA, Oct 21, 2016
- ↑ "CSTPS begins induction of 500MW unit," TNN, Mar 31, 2014.
- ↑ Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country, Central Electricity Authority, February 2014
- ↑ Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country, Central Electricity Authority, June 2014
- ↑ "CSTPS new 500MW unit synchronized," Times of India, Jan 12, 2015
- ↑ "New Koradi, Chanda power units to start soon," Times of India, May 17, 2015
- ↑ "Projects," Maharashtra State Power Generation Company website, accessed April 2015
- ↑ "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
- ↑ Ashish Roy, "WCL to give coal for two new Genco units," Times of India, Apr 19, 2015
- ↑ “CSTPS again clouds Chanda sky with think smoke”, The Times of India, February 18, 2014.
- ↑ “Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station poisoned Chanda air every day in last 3 years: RTI”, The Times of India, September 28, 2013.
- ↑ “Chandrapur thermal plant officials booked for pollution of Irai river”, The Indian Express, August 20, 2016.
- ↑ “Regulating Coal Operations: Environmental and Social Impacts through the Lens of the National Green Tribunal,” Vikalp Social Organisation, May 2025
- ↑ “India’s Toxic Transition: New Report Exposes Effects Of Coal Pollution As Nation Eyes Net Zero By 2070,” Outlook India, August 30, 2025
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.
