Meja Thermal Power Project

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Meja Thermal Power Project is an operating power station of at least 1320-megawatts (MW) in Meja, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Meja Thermal Power Project Meja, Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India 25.145867, 81.940096 (exact)

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

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Stage I Unit 1, Stage I Unit 2, Stage II Unit 3, Stage II Unit 4, Stage II Unit 5: 25.145867, 81.940096

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
Stage I Unit 1 operating coal - unknown 660 supercritical 2018
Stage I Unit 2 operating coal - unknown 660 supercritical 2021
Stage II Unit 3 pre-permit[1] coal - unknown 800[1] unknown
Stage II Unit 4 pre-permit[1] coal - unknown 800[1] unknown
Stage II Unit 5 pre-permit[1] coal - unknown 800[1] unknown

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner
Stage I Unit 1 Meja Urja Nigam Pvt Ltd (MUNPL) [100.0%]
Stage I Unit 2 Meja Urja Nigam Pvt Ltd (MUNPL) [100.0%]
Stage II Unit 3 Meja Urja Nigam Pvt Ltd (MUNPL) [100.0%]
Stage II Unit 4 Meja Urja Nigam Pvt Ltd (MUNPL) [100.0%]
Stage II Unit 5 Meja Urja Nigam Pvt Ltd (MUNPL) [100.0%]

Project-level coal details

  • Permit(s): Terms of Reference: 2023-12-14[2], Terms of Reference: 2023-12-14[2]

Background

The Meja Thermal Power Project was proposed by a joint venture of NTPC and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL).[3] NTPC and UPRVUNL are both 50% shareholders in the joint venture company, Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited.[4] [5]

In February 2012, the company announced that it had reached final closure for the project. A loan agreement for Rs. 7,575 crore was signed on June 06, 2012 with consortium of sixteen Banks led by State Bank of India and syndicated by SBI Capital Markets Ltd.[6]

In May 2012 Toshiba Corporation was awarded a contract for the supply of two 660MW super-critical units for the power station.[7]

The project has a planned commissioning date of 2017.[8][9][10]

In March 2017, the project was reported to be 80% complete.[11]

Unit 1 was synchronized in August 2017 and is planned for commissioning in December 2017.[12] It was commissioned in March 2018.[13] Unit 2 is also planned for 2018.[14]

In December 2019, unit 1 stopped operating due to turbine problems. The closure delayed the commissioning of unit 2.[15]

Unit 2 was commissioned in January 2021, according to the Central Electricity Authority.[16]

2023: Proposed expansion

According to April 2023 reporting, an official said NTPC expected to place orders "during the current fiscal year" [FY24] for construction of an additional 1,320 MW of coal capacity at the Meja Thermal Power Project (as well as 1.6 GW at the Singrauli Super Thermal Power Station and 1.6 GW at the Lara Integrated Thermal Power Project).[17][18][19][20]

The last known permitting documents related to Meja (MOEFCC File No. J-13012/03/2008-IA.II(T)) appeared to be from a few years earlier and related to the operating units,[21] so the expansion was presumed to be in early stages even though more developments may already be underway.

In September 2023, NTPC signed a supplementary joint venture agreement with state-owned UPRVUNL to take on joint development of the Meja II expansion, as well as proposals at Obra Thermal Power Station and Anpara power station. The supplementary agreement amended an original joint venture between the companies in 2008.[22]

The reported capacity of the Meja II expansion has varied among news articles published between August and October 2023, ranging from 2 x 660 MM,[22] to 2 x 800 MW[23] and 3 x 800 MW.[24]

In the Expert Appraisal Committee's October/November 2023 meeting minutes, a proposal was submitted for Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 3 x 800 MW expansion (Phase II).[25] According to the meeting minutes, the committee had recommended the grant of ToR. The project's ToR were granted on December 14, 2023.[26]

Financing Units 1-2

In June 2012, the project reached financial closure after it secured US$1360 million in loans from SBI Capital Markets, Allahabad Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, Corporation Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Larsen & Toubro, Punjab & Sind Bank, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of India, United Bank of India, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, State Bank of Patiala, and Vijaya Bank. US$838.81 million in equity is being provided by Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).[27][27]

In September 2014, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) provided the project with a loan of approximately US$90 million, divided into a JPY8.1 billion (approx. US$78 million) tranche and a US$12 million tranche. The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (MUFG Bank) also provided approximately US$60 million, divided into a JPY5.1 billion (approx. US$51 million) tranche and a US$9 million tranche. Nippon Export and Investment Insurance provided coverage for the MUFG Bank portion.[28][28]

In 2017, India's Power Finance Corporation, a government-owned financial institution, provided additional debt financing through a loan of Rs66 billion (approx. US$1.03 billion).[29][29]

Citizen opposition

In March 2014, farmers and police clashed during a protest at the Meja Thermal Power station. Farmers claimed that many had been displaced because of land acquired for the constructing the plant. It was reported that farmers threw stones at police during the protest, which involved villagers from Salaiya Kalan.[30]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240125142847/https://parivesh.nic.in/utildoc/24401228_1700034939902.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 2.0 2.1 (PDF) https://web.archive.org/web/20240218232250/https://parivesh.nic.in/certificates/MEJA_URJA_NIGAM_PRIVATE_LIMITED/5/18354403/IA_UP_THE_449702_2023_18354404_-signed.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. NTPC, "Announcements: 2007-2008: 28th February 2008", NTPC website, accessed February 2012.
  4. NTPC, "Business Development", NTPC website, accessed February 2012.
  5. Environmental Impact Assessment Report Meja Thermal Power Project, Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited, Allahabad, March 2010
  6. NTPC, "Announcements: Corporate Disclosure: 17th February, 2012", NTPC website, accessed February 2012.
  7. "Toshiba Wins Major Order in India for Super-critical Steam Turbines and Generators Island Package," Toshiba, May 9, 2012
  8. "NTPC Investor presentation," August 1, 2013.
  9. "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, March 2016
  10. "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, March 2017
  11. K Sandeep Kumar, "Allahabad set to become a solar power hub," Hindustan Times, 23 March 2017
  12. “Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country,” India Ministry of Power, Sep 2017
  13. "Installed capacity," India CEA, 31.03.2018
  14. "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, November 2017
  15. "SP voices concern over shut down of Meja thermal plant". India Today. December 9, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. Installed capacity, India CEA, January 2021
  17. "India power giant NTPC to add more coal plants to meet soaring demand," Economic Times, April 14, 2023
  18. "NTPC eyes 10GW coal-based brownfield expansion," Financial Express, April 17, 2023
  19. "NTPC Plans To Expand Its 10GW Brownfield Coal Plant," The Industry Outlook, April 17, 2023
  20. "NTPC To Build More Coal Plants This Year To Meet Soaring Power Demand: Report," ABP Live, April 14, 2023
  21. PARIVESH, MOEF, accessed May 2023
  22. 22.0 22.1 "NTPC Signs Supplementary JV With Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan," The Free Press Journal, September 14, 2023
  23. "NTPC to set up one more thermal power plant in state," Hindustan Times, August 1, 2023
  24. "MUNPL set to become largest power producer in U.P: CEO Sunil Kumar," Hindustan Times, October 11, 2023
  25. Minutes of 02ND Meeting of the Re-Constituted Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting - Thermal Projects held from 31/10/2023 to 01/11/2023, MoEFCC, November 15, 2023
  26. Expansion of Meja Coal Based Thermal Power Project from 1320 MW (2x660) to 3720 MW (with 3x800 MW- Stage II) at Tehsil Meja, District Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh by M/s Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited - Terms of Reference (ToR), MoEFCC, December 14, 2023
  27. 27.0 27.1 "Preview of Meja Coal-based Thermal Power Plant (1320MW) | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  28. 28.0 28.1 Export Credit Line for State Bank of India, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Sep. 2, 2014
  29. 29.0 29.1 NTPC’s JV Company - Meja Urja Nigam Pvt. Limited signs loan Agreement with PFC, NTPC, July 29, 2017
  30. "Farmers, police clash at Meja thermal power plant" Rajiv Mani, The Times of India, March 7, 2014.

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.