Lanco Amarkantak Thermal Power Project

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Lanco Amarkantak Thermal Power Project is an operating power station of at least 600-megawatts (MW) in Pathadi, Korba, Chhattisgarh, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Lanco Amarkantak Thermal Power Project Pathadi, Korba, Korba, Chhattisgarh, India 22.2454, 82.7246 (exact)

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

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1, Unit 2: 22.2454, 82.7246
  • Unit 3, Unit 4: 22.2420932, 82.7247334

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
Unit 1 operating coal - bituminous 300 subcritical 2009
Unit 2 operating coal - bituminous 300 subcritical 2010
Unit 3 cancelled coal - bituminous 660 subcritical
Unit 4 cancelled coal - bituminous 660 subcritical

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner
Unit 1 Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd [100.0%]
Unit 2 Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd [100.0%]
Unit 3 Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd [100.0%]
Unit 4 Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd [100.0%]

Project-level coal details

  • Permit(s): May 26, 2010 – Environmental Clearance; Environmental Clearance Extension: 2015-06-22

Background

Stage I of the plant, which is owned by Lanco, comprises two 300 megawatt generating units commissioned in 2009 and 2010.[1][2][3]

Lanco sought and gained part funding for the project from the International Finance Corporation.[4]

Proposed expansion

In 2015, two additional units of 660 each were under construction, bringing the power station's proposed final capacity to 1,920 MW.[5][6]

The India government projected the new units would be commissioned in 2017-2018.[7][8]

The June 2023 Broad Status report predicted that the expansion project would be revived in FY 2025-2026. [9]

Corporate insolvency

According to the Broad Status Report as of October 2016, "Presently no work is going at the site due to financial problems." The report also noted that land acquisition of land for water system was delayed, and that the schedule of implementation would be reassessed once work resumed.[10]

In September 2019, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) allowed Axis Bank to start bankruptcy proceedings against Lanco Amarkantak Power after it defaulted on loans. The company owed banks almost Rs 12,000 crore. Attempts to resolve the default under previous schemes such as corporate debt restructuring failed. The tribunal had ordered liquidation of Lanco group parent, Lanco Infratech, last year after banks failed to agree on a resolution plan for the company during its insolvency proceedings. The parent company alone owed banks in excess of Rs 45,000 crore.[11]

In 2021, government documents noted the following about the project: "Admitted to NCLT on 05.09.2019; Resolution Plan being considered."[12]

In December 2021, lenders selected Vedanta's offer of ₹2,800 crore for a financially-stressed Lanco power unit, to put to a vote after its offer was declared higher than that of rival bidder iLabs Group. Vedanta and iLabs Group were the only two bidders.[13]

However, in January 2022, lenders rejected Vedanta's offer for Lanco. Lenders were reportedly evaluating options including inviting fresh bids. They felt the valuation offered by Vedanta was low considering the company owned other plants.[14]

Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd's Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process website detailed the status of units 3 & 4.[15]

In February and March 2022, it was reported that Reliance Industries was planning to make a foray into coal-based power generation by submitting an application to acquire bankrupt Lanco’s Amarkantak unit. RIL had earlier made an announcement to get into the renewable power generation business by investing $10 billion in three years but its bid for a coal-based power plant was considered as deviation from its green energy policy.[16]

In November 2022, it was reported that Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) and Adani Enterprises were set to compete for an auction to purchase Lanco Amarkantak Power. According to a report in the Economic Times, the Reliance vs Adani competition for Lanco unit auction was possibly the first time that the country’s biggest corporate houses would pit against each other for an asset. A consortium of Power Finance Corp. (PFC) and REC Ltd. would also be part of the auction.[17]

In December, it was reported that if the deal went ahead, SJVN Ltd could be the majority shareholder in Lanco Amarkantak with 40%, while DVC could own a 10% stake, and PFC and REC could continue to hold 25% each.[18]

However, in December 2022, a voting deadline was also extended until January 2023 amid a legal battle among creditors over the distribution of proceeds.[19]

In January 2023, the PFC-REC team received 95% of lender votes by value of debt, while Adani Power secured 17%. Reliance Industries, the third bidder in the fray, did not receive any votes. (The voting percentages need not total up to 100 as lenders could vote for one offer, an alternative, or all of the options on the table.)[20] The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) was expected to hear minority lenders’ appeal on January 18. Even as lenders had voted on the plans, the resolution of the company would conclude only after the tribunal decided on distribution of proceeds.

In April 2023, the Economic Times reported that PFC-REC had offered ₹3,020 crore for Lanco Amarkantak Power after a Swiss challenge mechanism was introduced in the bidding process that had attracted both Reliance Industries and the Adani Group. According to sources, PFC and REC bid for Lanco Amarkantak Power because they have given large loans to the power company and felt that the value offered by bidders was not adequate. After being declared the winning bidder, they approached the department of investment and public asset management (DIPAM) for approval to acquire the company through the JV entity. DIPAM questioned the transaction structure: it was "not in-principle opposed to the acquisition of stressed power projects by the PFC-REC combine" but had "reservations about this being done through a separate company that would require fresh capital to be allocated for a defined purpose."[21]

Following this development, the June 2023 and the November 2023 Broad Status reports stated that the project's Units 3 and 4 were expected to be revived by FY 2025-2026.[22]

In January 2024 it was reported that Jindal Power proposed to top Adani's bid who was the highest bid until then. Adani offered 41 billion rupees ($494 million) in December 2023, just as the insolvency court prepared to give final clearance to PFC and REC. [23][24] In February 2024, Adani was reportedly declared the winning bidder after offering 41.01 billion rupees for the Lanco Amarkantak power station.[25]

Opposition

The Forest Peoples Programme review on the Lanco Amarkantrak power plant revealed that since 2008, there was no evidence of “genuine broad community support for the project.” Protests and petitions occurred against the LAPPL over employment provisions.[26]

In October 2011, protests from the local villagers occurred against the Lanco Amarkantak power plant because they believe the company in charge, LAPPL, has shown indifference to environmental concerns. A hearing over the power plant was cancelled as a result of these protests. LAPPL has refuted these claims, stating that it was defamation.[27]

In January 7, 2012, violent protests erupted at the public hearing held for the expansion of the Lanco Amarkantak power plant by the Lanco Amarkantak Power Private Limited (LAPPL) company in the town of Korba. The protestors had pelted stones and tried to get into the hearing. The police prevented them and dispersed villagers with lathi-charge and lobbed tear gas shells.[28]

Financing

Source of financing: China Development Bank

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.[29]

Stages

Stage I:

  • Unit 1 - 300 MW - 2009
  • Unit 2 - 300 MW - 2010

Stage II:

  • Unit 3 - 660 MW
  • Unit 4 - 660 MW

Contact details

Village-Pathadi, P.O-Tilkeja,
Korba 495 674 Chhattisgarh, India
Phone No. +91-7759-279 938/ 915

Articles and Resources

References

  1. Lanco, "Amarkantak Power Project", Lanco website, accessed February 2012
  2. MONTHLY REPORT ON BROAD STATUS OF THERMAL POWER PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY, Ministry of Power, February 2012
  3. Lanco Amarkantak (Pathadi) Coal Power Plant India, Global Energy Observatory, accessed December 2011
  4. "Lanco Amarkantak Thermal Power Station: Summary of Proposed Investment," International Finance Corporation website, accessed February 2012
  5. "Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd,", Lanco website, accessed September 2015
  6. "Coal-Fired Plants Financed by International Public Investment Institutions Since 1994", Appendix to Foreclosing the Future: Coal, Climate and International Public Finance: Investment in coal-fired power plants hinders the fight against global warming, Environmental Defense, April 2009
  7. "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," India CEA, November 2015
  8. "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," India CEA, July 2016
  9. Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects (June, 2023) Central Electricity Authority, Government of Inida, June 2023
  10. "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, October 2016
  11. "NCLT okays start of Lanco Amarkantak bankruptcy process," The Economic Times, September 14, 2019
  12. “Broad Status Report,” Thermal Project Monitoring Division , Central Electricity Authority, November 2021
  13. "Lenders to vote on Vedanta's ₹2,800 crore offer for Lanco unit," The Economic Times, December 24, 2021
  14. "Lenders reject Rs 2,800-crore Vedanta offer for Lanco unit," The Economic Times, January 12, 2022
  15. "Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process of LAPL," Lanco Amarkantak Power Ltd, accessed January 2022
  16. "RIL, Adani Power, BPCL, Oil India, Glaxosmithkline Pharma, Voltas, Yasho Industries stocks in focus," Financial Express, March 17, 2022
  17. "Reliance And Adani Set To Compete At Lanco Amarkantak Power Auction: Report," Outlook India, November 23, 2022
  18. "Indian state-run power companies close to buying Lanco asset for $365 mln," Reuters, December 13, 2022
  19. "Lanco Amarkantak resolution voting extended till Jan 7 with Adani, RIL, PFC-REC in fray," December 31, 2022
  20. "Lenders pick PFC-REC offer for Lanco Amarkantak Power," Economic Times, January 10, 2023
  21. "PFC-REC's winning offer for Lanco unit runs into regulatory hurdles," Economic Times, April 13, 2023
  22. Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects (June, 2023) Central Electricity Authority, Government of Inida, June 2023
  23. "India's Jindal Power proposes to top Adani's bid for coal-power plant -sources". www.reuters.com. January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. "Jindal Power bids higher than Adani company for Lanco Amarkantak Power". economictimes.indiatimes.com. January 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. Adani Power wins bid for Lanco Amarkantak at ₹4,101 crore, The Economic Times, February 9, 2024
  26. “Sustainable development or business as usual?”, Forest Peoples Programme, September 2008.
  27. “Power project’s expansion plan hits green hurdle”, Hindustan Times, October 31, 2011.
  28. “Chhattisgarh: Violence and chaos at Lanco’s expansion plan meet”, Hindustan Times, January 7, 2012.
  29. "Lanco Infratech to raise US$2 billion from Chinese banks and FIs for power projects," Lanco press release, Nov 26, 2012

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.