MP Amarkantak power station
| Part of the Global Coal Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Related coal trackers: |
MP Amarkantak power station is an operating power station of at least 210-megawatts (MW) in Chachai, Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Amarkantak Thermal Power Station-Chachai.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| MP Amarkantak power station | Chachai, Anuppur, Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India | 23.162146, 81.632816 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Phase I Unit 1, Phase II Unit 3, Phase II Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6: 23.162146, 81.632816
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year | Emergency/Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I Unit 1 | Retired | coal: bituminous[1] | 30 | subcritical | 1965 | 2009 | False |
| Phase II Unit 3 | Retired | coal: bituminous[1] | 120 | subcritical | 1977 | 2015 | False |
| Phase II Unit 4 | Retired | coal: bituminous[1] | 120 | subcritical | 1978 | 2014 | False |
| Unit 5 | Operating | coal: bituminous[1] | 210 | subcritical | 2009 | – | False |
| Unit 6 | Permitted[2] | coal: bituminous[1][2] | 660[2] | ultra-supercritical[3] | 2027 (planned) | – | False |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Phase I Unit 1 | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100%] | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Phase II Unit 3 | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100%] | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Phase II Unit 4 | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100%] | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100%] | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | South Eastern Coalfields Ltd [49%]; Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [51%][4][4] | Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd [51.0%]; Coal India Ltd [49.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): domestic
- Permit(s): Environmental Clearance; Terms of Reference: 2019-10-10; Environmental Impact Assessment: 2022-02; Amended EC 2025-09-25
Background
The original power station consists of the following units:[5]
| Stage | Unit Number | Installed Capacity (Megawatt) | Date of Commissioning | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | 1 | 30 | 1965 | Retired 2009 |
| First | 2 | 20* | 1965 | Retired 2009 |
| Second | 3 | 120 | 1977 | Retired 2015 |
| Second | 4 | 120 | 1978 | Retired 2014 |
| Third | 5 | 210 | 2009 | Operating |
Expansion: 1 x 660 MW
In October 2019, Madhya Pradesh Power Generating received a terms of reference to add a new 660 MW supercritical unit at the power station.[5]
The MOEF's permitting portal includes the company's permit application.[6]
In April 2022, the Thermal Expert Appraisal Committee deferred permitting the proposal, instead seeking additional information or updates:[7]
- i. Re-orient CHP system location to avoid forest area and felling of trees due to proposed expansion.
- ii. PP need to submit document from the State Government stating that PP is not encroaching the lake area.
- iii. Status of green belt across the periphery of the project boundary shall be provided (including video using drone and photographs), along with action plan for future plantation.
- iv. MoU signed with State Water Resource Department is about supply of water to TPP from Son River; therefore, necessary clarification/permission about drawing of water from Chachai lake be submitted.
- v. Time bound action plan along with the financial allocation for lake rejuvenation and proportion of tourism.
- vi. Justification for observed non-compliance regarding use of coal with high Sulphur contents.
In June 2022, Coal India subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) signed an MoU with the Madhya Pradesh Power Generation Company Limited (MPPGCL) to develop the unit at an investment of Rs 4,665 crore. A joint venture would be formed.[8]
In September 2022 and December 2022, the company continued to provide the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) additional information for approval.[9][10]
In January 2023, the EAC recommended Environmental Clearance for the 660 MW supercritical expansion in place of the existing Phases I & II (290 MW).[11]
In May 2023, the MOEF granted environmental clearance to the expansion project in place of two retired units.[12] The EC report stated that the new unit would be on top of the site of the old Phase-I and Phase-II units, which would need to be dismantled. [12]
It was estimated that the new unit would be ready for commercial production in financial year 2027/2028 [13]
In August 2023, it was reported that the project was "in advanced stages of approval," according to the Ministry.[14] Work on the 660 MW expansion unit was expected to begin by the end of FY 2023, and it was estimated the project would be completed by 2028.[14] By the end of 2023, construction did not appear to have begun yet.
Reporting in January 2024 confirmed that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved state-owned South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) for an equity capital investment of Rs 823 crore to set up the power station via a joint with MPPGCL.[15] The tendering process for equipment procurement was initially planned for late April 2024.[16] By June 2024, the unit's EPC bidding process was expected to take place from July to August 2024.[17]
In December 2024, Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) was announced as the lowest bidder for the expansion's Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) package.[18] According to reporting, construction was expected to take 48 months to complete.
In February 2025, a proposal for amendments to the project's Environmental Clearance, including a request to change the new unit's technology from supercritical to ultra-supercritical, was returned to the proponent by the EAC.[19] The EAC's meeting minutes noted that the project would not be allowed to continue development until clearance was granted for forest diversion.[19]
In August 2025, the Expert Appraisal Committee again reviewed the request to amend the project's Environmental Clearance. The amendment was recommended by the committee, including changing the unit's technology to ultra-supercritical.[20]
In September 2025, the amended Environmental Clearance was granted.[21] Also in September 2025, Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) was officially awarded the EPC package for Unit 6.[22]
In March 2026, the expansion unit was included in the monthly Broad Status report, but physical construction progress was listed at 0%.[23]
Financing of the Expansion
In March 2023, it was reported that the project would be financing according to the following distribution: "70 percent loan will be provided by the financial institutions, 15 percent share will be provided by SECL and the remaining 15 percent share will be provided by the state government from the budget to the MP Power Generating Company from 2022-23 to 2028-29." [24]
In August 2023, it was reported that South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) would invest Rs 5,600 crore in the joint venture expansion project.[14] However later January 2024, it was reported that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister approved proposal for 49% equity investment equivalent to Rs.823 Crore (± 20%) by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) for setting-up the plant through the JV with the state-owned Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Co Ltd.[25] The assumption is that 70% of the project cost of Rs 5,600 (accuracy of ±20%) would be financed with debt.[25]
In the Central Electricity Authority's April 2026 Broad Status Report, Amarkantak TPP Phase IV Unit 6 was listed with a financial closure date of September 29, 2025. The report listed the original and latest estimated cost of the project as Rs 11,476.31 crore, with total expenditure of Rs 612.63 crore up to April 30, 2026. BHEL was listed as the EPC contractor. The report also showed 0% physical progress for the main plant packages as of April 2026.[26]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 https://www.gem.wiki/Coal_source_methodology_for_the_Global_Coal_Plant_Tracker.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (PDF) https://parivesh.nic.in/utildoc/121739893_1741256562747.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ (PDF) https://parivesh.nic.in/utildoc/135861946_1757332584261.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Cabinet approves equity investment by (i) South Eastern Coalfields Limited for setting-up 1×660 MW Thermal Power Plant through JV of SECL and MPPGCL; and (ii) Mahanadi Coalfields Limited for setting-up 2x800 MW Thermal Power Plant through MBPL". pib.gov.in. Archived from the original on 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 of Reference, India MoEF, October 10, 2019
- ↑ E.g. "Form 2," Application for Prior Environmental Clearance, accessed in 2022
- ↑ 23rd Thermal EAC Meeting Minutes, MOEF, held April 7, 2022
- ↑ SECL signs MoU with MP Power Generation Co for 660MW power plant, Economic Times, June 23, 2022
- ↑ "Submission of Point Wise Replies," MP Power, September 26, 2022
- ↑ "Submission of Point Wise Replies," MP Power, December 27, 2022
- ↑ "The 36th Meeting of the re-constituted EAC (Thermal Power) organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change," MOEF, January 25, 2023
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Proposal Name :1x210 MW Amarkantak Thermal Power Station; Expansion," MOEF, Accessed: May 2023
- ↑ "Rs 4665.87 crore sanctioned for expansion of Amarkantak Thermal Power Station, Chachai," The Hitavada, March 29, 2023
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Coal India plans two thermal plants with Rs 21,547 cr investment in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh Financial Express, Aug. 2, 2023
- ↑ CCEA approves Rs 5,607 cr investments by Coal India in two power projects, Business Standard, January 18, 2024
- ↑ Tenders By Organisation, Tenders Madhya Pradesh, Accessed: April 11, 2024
- ↑ EPC package for Amarkantak TPS Chachai Unit 6 ( 1 X 660) MW, MP Tenders, Accessed: June 25, 2024
- ↑ BHEL emerges as L1-bidder for Amarkantak TPS in Madhya Pradesh, Projects Today, December 17, 2024
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Minutes of AGENDA FOR 20TH MEETING OF THE EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMITTEE (EAC) (THERMAL POWER PROJECTS) TO BE HELD ON 24TH FEBRUARY, 2025, MoEFCC, March 6, 2025
- ↑ Minutes of AGENDA FOR 29th MEETING OF EXPERT APPRAISAL COMMIT TEE (THERMAL SECTOR), SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON…,” Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, September 8, 2025
- ↑ "Expansion of 210 MW Thermal Power Plant (Unit V) by installation of 1x660MW Amarkantak Supercritical Thermal Power Project...," Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, September 25, 2025
- ↑ “BHEL wins supercritical power equipment EPC orders in Madhya Pradesh,” T&D India, September 30, 2025
- ↑ “Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects (March 2026),” Central Electricity Authority, India Ministry of Power, March 2026
- ↑ "MP cabinet approves creation of 3 new tehsils, sanctions Rs 4,666 crores for expansion of Amarkantak Thermal Power Station," The Print, March 28, 2023
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Cabinet approves equity investment by (i) South Eastern Coalfields Limited for setting-up 1×660 MW Thermal Power Plant through JV of SECL and MPPGCL; and (ii) Mahanadi Coalfields Limited for setting-up 2x800 MW Thermal Power Plant through MBPL". /pib.gov.in. January 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Broad Status Report of Under Construction Thermal Power Projects (April 2026)". Central Electricity Authority. April 2026. Retrieved June 4, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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.
