Neyveli Thermal Power Station II
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Neyveli Thermal Power Station II is an operating power station of at least 1970-megawatts (MW) in Neyveli, Kurinjipadi, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Neyveli-2 power station.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Neyveli Thermal Power Station II | Neyveli, Kurinjipadi, Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, India | 11.553404, 79.440762 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 10, Unit 11, Unit 8, Unit 9: 11.553404, 79.440762
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7: 11.5575892, 79.4415697
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | operating | coal - lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1986 | – |
| Unit 10 | permitted | coal - lignite | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 11 | permitted | coal - lignite | 660 | supercritical | – | – |
| Unit 2 | operating | coal - lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1987 | – |
| Unit 3 | operating | coal - lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1986 | – |
| Unit 4 | operating | coal - lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1991 | – |
| Unit 5 | operating | coal - lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1991 | – |
| Unit 6 | operating | coal - lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1992 | – |
| Unit 7 | operating | coal - lignite | 210 | subcritical | 1993 | – |
| Unit 8 | operating | coal - lignite | 250 | circulating fluidized bed | 2011 | – |
| Unit 9 | operating | coal - lignite | 250 | circulating fluidized bed | 2015 | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 10 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 11 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 7 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 8 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 9 | NLC India Ltd [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Permit(s): October 29, 2018 – Environmental Clearance; Terms of Reference: 2017-03-23; Environmental Impact Assessment, January 9, 2003 – Environmental Clearance, October 29, 2019 – Environmental Clearance; Terms of Reference: 2017-03-23; Environmental Impact Assessment
Background on existing power station
The original power station comprises 7 units of 210MW each. It was commissioned in two stages of 630MW and 840MW. The first 210MW unit was commissioned in March 1986 and the last unit in June 1993. Lignite for the power project is being supplied from the Neyveli lignite mine, which is owned and operated by NLC.[1]
In October 2011, NLC commissioned a 250 MW unit (Unit 8) at the same site.[2] As of 2011 a second 250 MW unit (Unit 9) was under construction,[3] projected to become operable in 2013.[4] Unit 9 was commissioned on January 24, 2015.[5]
Proposed Phase II Expansion (Units 10 and 11)
In November 2016 NLC India applied for a terms of reference to set up two additional supercritical units at the power station of 660 MW each, near Mudhanai village. Coal would be provided by a new mine, known as Mine III.[6] In March 2017 the company received a terms of reference for the expansion.[7] The EIA was submitted in June 2018.[8] Environmental clearance was granted on October 29, 2018.[9]
There were no obvious developments near the existing site between Jan. 2017 and Jan. 2022 based on Planet satellite imagery. (The second expansion was expected West of the operating units.)
In July 2022, it was reported that the NLC board had given its go-ahead to the investment proposal to set up "TPS II 2nd Expansion Thermal Power Station (2 X 660 MW) at Neyveli, Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of Rs 11,189.20 crore".[10]
A late 2022 Lok Sabha answer and NLC's website confirmed the project's revival. The website summarized: "It is proposed to increase the power generating capacity by adding another 1320 MW thermal power plant as the second expansion to the existing TPS-II at Neyveli. A new mine, Mine-III of capacity of 11.5 MTPA is proposed to be set up to exploit the mineable lignite reserves of about 415 MT available in the south of the existing Mine-II to meet the fuel requirement of the proposed thermal power plant. Tendering under progress to award the work on EPC basis."[11][12]
In May 2023, NLC's website had not updated the status of the expansion project[12], but an April 2023 news article reported that NLC had "floated tenders for single package procurement and construction (EPC) for the second expansion of Neyveli Thermal Power Station II project" [13].
A September 2023 company report stated that the bidding process for construction of the two units would open on October 4, 2023.[14] By April 2024, news of the EPC bidding and award were not available, and construction did not appear to have begun.
Reported pollution
In August 2023, an analysis of environmental impacts from several coal plants and mines in Tamil Nadu found widespread air, soil, and water pollution. New Neyveli Thermal Power Station, Neyveli Thermal Power Station I, Neyveli Thermal Power Station II, and Cuddalore IL&FS power station were included in the study, which was conducted by Poovulagin Nanbargal (Friends of the Earth Tamil Nadu) and the research NGO Manthan Adhyayan Kendra. The study found high concentrations of mercury, selenium, and fluoride in several drinking water sources near NLC mines and power stations. Water samples near the IL&FS plant in Parangipettai contained fluoride, iron, calcium, magnesium, and silicon above legal limits. The report recommended stricter regulation of the mines and power plants and measures to cut effluent discharges and the dumping of coal ash in local waterbodies.[15][16]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ Neyveli Lignite Corporation, "Thermal plants: TPS - II", Neyveli Lignite Corporation website, accessed January 2012.
- ↑ "Generation Capacity Addition During 2011-12," Central Electricity Authority, January 2012
- ↑ "Future Plans - Implementation: Thermal Power Station-II Expansion" Neyveli Lignite Corporation, accessed February 2012
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country" Government of India Ministry of Power, September 2012.
- ↑ "Broad Status Report," India Central Electrical Authority, March 2017
- ↑ Pre-feasibility report, NLC India, Nov 30, 2016
- ↑ Terms of Reference," MoEF, 23 March 2017
- ↑ EIA, NLC India, June 2018
- ↑ Environmental clearance, India MOEF, October 29, 2018
- ↑ "NLC India board approves investment proposals worth Rs 14,945 crore," Economic Times, July 21, 2022
- ↑ "Production of Dry Fuel," MINISTER OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS, COAL AND MINES, Starred Question No.206, to be answered on 21.12.2022
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Upcoming Projects," NLC India, Last updated on 21-01-2023
- ↑ "NLCIL achieves power generation feat," The Times of India, April 4, 2023
- ↑ NLCIL - Statement showing the quarterly progress of works for the quarter ending September -2023 CATEGORY - II, NLCIL, September 2023
- ↑ "POWERing Pollution: The Environmental Impacts of Thermal Power Stations and Mining Operations in Neyveli & Parangipettai," Poovulagin Nanbargal and Manthan Adhyayan Kendra, August 8, 2023
- ↑ "Report finds several environmental and pollution issues affecting villagers in and around the two power stations in Chennai’s Neyveli and Cuddalore," The Hindu, August 8, 2023
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.
