Koradi Thermal Power Station

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Koradi Thermal Power Station is an operating power station of at least 2190-megawatts (MW) in Koradi, Kamptee, Nagpur, 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)
Koradi Thermal Power Station	Koradi, Kamptee, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India	21.2359824, 79.0919495 (exact)

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

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

• Unit 10, Unit 11, Unit 12, Unit 8, Unit 9: 21.2359824, 79.0919495
• Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7: 21.2420685, 79.0949659

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	Start year	Retired year
Unit 1	retired	coal - bituminous	105	subcritical	1974	2010
Unit 10	operating	coal - bituminous	660	supercritical	2016	–
Unit 11	pre-permit	coal - bituminous	660	supercritical	–	–
Unit 12	pre-permit	coal - bituminous	660	supercritical	–	–
Unit 2	retired	coal - bituminous	105	subcritical	1975	2010
Unit 3	retired	coal - bituminous	105	subcritical	1976	2010
Unit 4	retired	coal - bituminous	105	subcritical	1976	2010
Unit 5	retired	coal - bituminous	200	subcritical	1978	2017
Unit 6	operating	coal - bituminous	210	subcritical	1982	–
Unit 7	retired	coal - bituminous	210	subcritical	1983	2021
Unit 8	operating	coal - bituminous	660	supercritical	2015	–
Unit 9	operating	coal - bituminous	660	supercritical	2016	–

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner
Unit 1	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 10	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 11	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 12	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 2	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 3	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 4	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 5	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 6	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 7	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 8	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]
Unit 9	Maharashtra State Power Generation Co Ltd (MAHAGENCO) [100.0%]

Project-level coal details

• Permit(s): January 4, 2010 – Environmental Clearance, Terms of Reference: 2020-06-26

Original Units 1-6

The power station is owned by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company (MSPGCL), a Maharashtra government-owned company. The first four units of 105 MW each were commissioned from 1974 to 1976 and retired in 2010. Unit 5 of 200 MW was commissioned in 1978 and retired in March 2017.

Units 6-7 of 210 MW each were commissioned in 1982-1983. They were still operating as of 2017. However, Unit 7 retired in August 2021.

New Units 8-10

In 2013, MSPGCL stated on its website that the addition of 1,980MW at the Koradi Thermal Power Station was under construction. The expansion would comprise three 660MW units referred to as Units 8, 9 and 10.

Unit 8 completed a trial run in May 2015. According to the Ministry of Energy, unit 8 commissioned on March 30, 2015.

Unit 9 was commissioned in March 2016.

Unit 10 was commissioned in December 2016.

Proposed Units 11-12

On May 21, 2019, Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco) applied for a 2 x 660 MW expansion at the power station, to be built at the site of the retired units 1-5.

In December 2019, EAC refused to grant clearance for the plant expansion, citing failure to install flue gas desulphuriser (FGD) at the existing units to control pollution.

In June 2020, it was reported the the state cabinet decided to defer the planned expansion, due to revenue shortfall and public opposition. Additionally, the failure of Mahagenco to install pollution controls on the existing Koradi units was making it difficult for the company to secure permits for the expansion.

However, shortly after the June 2020 announcement, and despite the Union environment ministry citing Mahagenco for pollution non-compliances, the expert appraisal committee (EAC) of the ministry granted terms of reference (TOR) for environmental clearance of the proposed expansion.

In December 2022, the Chairman & Managing Director of MAHAGENCO said the following in an interview:

"There are limitations for execution of new thermal plants in quantum, even though it is the most reliable energy source. After adding more than 6300 MW a few years ago, MAHAGENCO had to take a pause in its thermal project development with stricter environmental norms. (...) [W]e are thinking of executing thermal projects at Koradi (2×660 MW) & Chandrapur (1×660 MW) at existing TPS land. However, if the situation permits, we have shortlisted few options about development of further new thermal projects."

Another media source from December 2022 confirmed the plan to proceed with the project.

Mahagenco's website last updated as of April 2023 listed the project with expected completion in 2028/2029 stating that 'the GoM (Government of Ministers) and MERC (Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission) have accorded in-principle approval for the project, however, as per GoM directives, revised proposal with due consideration of RPO, prioritized electricity supply to farmers during day time, upcoming RE generation, future power scenario etc. is being submitted to GoM.'

In May 2023 it was reported that Union minister Nitin Gadkari had formally requested the proposed expansion be built at an alternate location, citing raised concerns about the health impacts of pollution from coal-combustion. Times of India reported that the proposed expansion's EIA report contained false claims and failed to give proper attention to the plant's potential environmental detriment.

In October 2023, the cabinet reportedly approved the two units and their projected cost of Rs 10,625 crore. At the time of reporting, a senior official at the plant had announced that the two new units (Units 11 and 12) would replace all of the older units within "the next few years." The state has also approved an equity infusion at Rs 2,215 crore or 20% of the estimated cost. MAHAGENCO has been granted permission to raise 80% (Rs 8,500 crore) as a loan.

News in January and February 2024 reported that MAHAGENCO was facing ongoing litigation due to its failure to comply with the environmental standards detailed in its original EC, granted in 2010, leading to nearly 14 years of unabated polluting emissions.

Coal linkage

In 2015, the proposed new units did not have a long-term coal linkage. In April 2015, Western Coalfields Limited agreed to supply coal to one of the new Koradi units on temporary basis until it gets a permanent linkage.

Air pollution

The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MOEFCC) made installation of FGD on one 660 MW unit mandatory in the environmental clearance granted to the three 660 MW units in 2010. However, Mahagenco had still not installed a single FGD in 2021.

In April 2017, it was reported that the three new 660 MW units at the Koradi plant exceeded sulphur dioxide pollution limits set by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change by over five times. Data supplied by Maharashtra State Power Generation Company to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for the units initially claimed the plants met standards, even though they have not been fitted with flue gas desulphurisation units. The discrepancy, which was revealed by a local activist, prompted Modi to demand an investigation. However, as of the time of the reporting the MPCB has taken no enforcement action.

Lawsuit pending (2021)

In 2021, Krishi Vigyan Arogya Sanstha through its president Omprakash Jajodia, Kisan Manch through its general secretary Pratap Goswami, and veteran environmentalist Pradyumna Sahasrabhojanee filed a petition highlighting various violations of the environmental clearance that was granted to the power plant in 2010 and amended in 2017, including FGD, fly ash, and water use requirements. Taking serious note of the hazardous public health and environmental impact caused by Koradi, the Pune bench of National Green Tribunal admitted the petition. The petitioners stated various demands, including quashing the terms of reference (ToR) issued to the proposed 2x660 MW expansion and to "issue directives to demolish the work already undertaken."

Financing

In October 2023, the cabinet reportedly approved the projected projected cost of Rs 10,625 crore as well as an equity infusion at Rs 2,215 crore or 20% of the estimated cost. The equity will be provided by the state government over 5 years. MAHAGENCO has been granted permission to raise 80% (Rs 8,500 crore) as a loan.

Opposition

In September 2011, the National Green Tribunal asked the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to assess the supposed radiation caused by power plants, such as the Koradi power plant. The order was prompted by residents of Kordai town near Nagpu in Maharashtra opposing the expansion of the Koradi power plant. They were worried about the increased radiation from thermal power plants, like Koradi.

The Bengaluru-based start-up, Jhatkaa.org, launched an online petition against the expansion of the Koradi Thermal Power Station (KTPS). The petition is titled,“Scrap the Koradi power unit expansion,” and addressed to the state chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, and energy minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The petition highlights how there is a water crisis that would be exacerbated by the expansion of KTPS. The organizer wants the petition to reach more public exposure.

On July 18, 2019, protestors voiced opposition against the KTPS expansion, claiming that pollution from KTPS would “sound a death knell for the city.” The protestors included 35 environmental organizations and individuals, such as the Vidarbha Environmental Action Group (VEAG).

A 2021 report by Centre for Sustainable Development, Asar, and Manthan Adhyayan Kendra detailed the devastating impacts of pollution from the Koradi and Khaparkheda coal plants owned.

In September 2023, reports stated that citizens and an NGO had approached the Bombay high court in opposition of the proposed expansion, citing air and water pollution issues. One of the claims of the petitioners was that the necessary Environmental Public Hearing procedure had not been followed by the company, preventing locals from attending the hearing. In response, the Bombay high court issued notices for a "fresh public hearing and call for MPCB to take action against MAHAGENCO officials for failing to control pollution originating from the Kodari Power Plant."

Reporting in February 2024 noted that the two developing expansion units (Units 11 and 12) would be a sink for public funds in comparison to available renewable energy alternatives. According to one report, Rs 6,000 Crore could be saved in the first five years by utilizing renewable energy technology rather than developing the coal units, along with an annual cost of RS 2,000 Crore which Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co would be locked into were the coal expansion to be built.

Articles and Resources

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.