Basundhara power station
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Basundhara power station is an announced power station in Basundhara, Sundargarh, Odisha, India. It is also known as Mahanadi Basin Power Limited.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Basundhara power station | Basundhara, Sundargarh, Odisha, India | 22.116667, 84.033333 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | announced | coal - unknown | 800 | supercritical | 2028[1] | – |
| Unit 2 | announced | coal - unknown | 800 | supercritical | 2028[1] | – |
| Unit 3 | announced | coal - unknown | 800 | ultra supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 4 | announced | coal - unknown | 800 | ultra supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 5 | announced | coal - unknown | 800 | ultra supercritical | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): Basundhara coal mine, Garjanbahal coal mine
Background
The plant was proposed by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, a subsidiary of Coal India.[2][3]
In July 2011, MCL sought expressions of interest in the establishment of a 1,600 MW coal-fired pit-head power station "in the vicinity of the Basundhara - Garjanbahal coal mines" in Sundergarh District, Odisha. MCL stated that it had "a long term production plan in Basundhara - Garjanbahal mines in Sundergarh District(Odisha) to produce about 13 MT non-coking coal in the terminal year of 11th Plan and about 34 MT in terminal year of 12th Plan. The Power requirement of MCL will be around 150 MW by the end of 13th plan."[4]
MCL stated that it was seeking a "Joint Venture (JV) partner to be selected through Tariff based International Competitive Bidding. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) was being incorporated by MCL for the above purpose. MCL would have at least 26% equity stake in the JV. Coal for the Power Plant would be provided by MCL." MCL listed Power Finance Corporation as a consultant on the project. MCL also stated that the project would comprise two 800 MW super-critical generating units.[4]
In January 2016, it was reported that coal linkage for the 1,600 MW super critical project had been delayed, and that the company was still seeking environmental clearance. MCL had said 800 acres had been acquired for the project and water linkages were in place. The plant was proposed to be located at the mouth of a coal field in the Mahanadi basin, and was expected to use coal from that mine.[5]
In May 2018, it was reported the project had been able to get land and coal linkages. NTPC would come onboard as a partner, and use its existing power purchase agreements for the project.[6]
In November 2021, a senior MCL officer reportedly noted MCL’s core business was coal mining and because it lacked expertise in power generation, it needed a joint venture partner. A minimum of Rs 12,000 crore was required for the power project and "there was no certainty yet over its progress," he added. The statement appeared to be about this project.[7]
2023 revival
As of January 2023 and May 2023, the project did not appear to have received any permits.
However, in January 2023 it was reported that MCL was still looking to diversify into power generation and the aluminium business. Sources noted that a 1,600 megawatt capacity coal-fired power project would come up in Odisha’s Sundargarh district as a wholly owned subsidiary of MCL. The power purchase agreement with a few states was in the process of being finalized. The subsidiary had applied to the government for coal linkage and the allotment had yet to be done.[8][9]
The news was presumed to be related to the proposed Basundhara power station, but it could have been related to the proposed Hemgir power station or an entirely new proposal.
As of July 2023, the project still did not appear to have begun the permitting process. However, news in early August 2023 announced that MCL had set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, Mahanadi Basin Power Limited, to develop the 2 x 800 MW pithead thermal power plant near the Basundhara mines in Sundergarh district.[10] Work on the project would reportedly begin by the middle of the following year (i.e. mid-2024) and project completion was expected by 2028.[10]
Reporting in January 2024 indicated that the power station would be built in two phases; Phase I would consist of two 800 MW units and Phase II would consist of three 800 MW units.[11] The commissioning process was estimated to span eight to nine years. At the time, the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had reportedly been signed between Coal India Limited (CIL) and Assam Power Distributing Company for the purchase of 1,200 MW of power from the Basundhara power station.[11] One article indicated that the project had "garnered interest from several states for 4,000 MW of power purchase agreements."[12]
In February 2024, project proponent CIL reportedly signed an additional MoU with the Haryana Power Purchase Center (HPPC) for the proponent to supply the state with 800 MW of electricity.[13] At the time of reporting, the proposal was referred to as a two-phase project that would eventually comprise five units totaling 4,000 MW of capacity.
Financing
Reporting in January 2023 stated that Mahanadi Basin Power Limited planned to invest Rs 12,000 crore to set up the power station.[14]
In January 2024, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister approved proposal for equity investment by Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for the plant through Mahanadi Basin Power Limited of 4,784 Crore (± 20%) with an estimated project capex of Rs.15,947 Crore.[15] This presumes debt financing to cover 70% of the project cost.
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125081437/https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1946291. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "MCL to set up 1600 MW power plant" Industry Monitor, accessed February 16, 2012.
- ↑ Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, "Formation of MCL", Mahanadi Coalfields Limited website, accessed January 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, "For Selection of a Joint Venture Partner for setting up a 2x800 MW Coal based Super Critical Thermal Power Plant for MCL in Sundergarh District, Odisha: Global Invitation for Expression of Interest (EOI), Mahanadi Coalfields Limited, July 2011.
- ↑ "Coal linkage delayed for MCL's Rs 11,000 crore power plant," The Economic Times, January 17, 2016
- ↑ "Coal India’s first thermal power plant to come up in Odisha," Business Line, May 28, 2018
- ↑ "Two power plant projects stare at premature death," New Indian Express, November 25, 2021
- ↑ "Coal India arm MCL to set up Rs 12,000-crore power plant in Odisha," Economic Times, January 23, 2023
- ↑ "Mahanadi Coalfields to set up 1,600 MW power plant in Odisha," Kalinga TV, January 23, 2023
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Coal India plans two thermal plants with Rs 21,547 cr investment in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh Financial Express, Aug. 2, 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Coal production target for FY25 is set at 850 MT, Financial Express, January 2, 2024
- ↑ Demand Surge: Plans and strategies to meet the growing power needs, PowerLine, December 5, 2023
- ↑ Coal India signs MoU with Haryana for 800 MW power supply from Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd, Energyworld (The Economic Times), February 15, 2024
- ↑ Mahanadi Coalfield to set up Rs 12,000 crore power plant in Odisha, The New Indian Express, January 23, 2023
- ↑ "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)
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.
