Obra Thermal Power Station

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Obra Thermal Power Station is an operating power station of at least 1000-megawatts (MW) in Kanpur, 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)
Obra Thermal Power Station	Kanpur, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India	24.4445, 82.98 (exact)

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

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Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

• C Unit 14, C Unit 15, D Unit 1, D Unit 2: 24.4445, 82.98
• A Unit 1, A Unit 2, A Unit 3, A Unit 4, A Unit 5, B Unit 10, B Unit 11, B Unit 12, B Unit 13, B Unit 6, B Unit 7, B Unit 8, B Unit 9: 24.4445803, 82.9803325

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name	Status	Fuel(s)	Capacity (MW)	Technology	Start year	Retired year
A Unit 1	retired	coal - bituminous	50	subcritical	1967	2017
A Unit 2	retired	coal - bituminous	50	subcritical	1968	2017
A Unit 3	retired	coal - bituminous	50	subcritical	1968	–
A Unit 4	retired	coal - bituminous	50	subcritical	1969	–
A Unit 5	retired	coal - bituminous	50	subcritical	1971	–
B Unit 10	operating	coal - bituminous	200	subcritical	1979	–
B Unit 11	operating	coal - bituminous	200	subcritical	1977	–
B Unit 12	operating	coal - bituminous	200	subcritical	1981	–
B Unit 13	operating	coal - bituminous	200	subcritical	1982	–
B Unit 6	retired	coal - bituminous	94	subcritical	1973	2011
B Unit 7	retired	coal - bituminous	94	subcritical	1974	2022
B Unit 8	retired	coal - bituminous	94	subcritical	1976	2018
B Unit 9	operating	coal - bituminous	200	subcritical	1982	–
C Unit 14	construction	coal - unknown	660	ultra-supercritical	2024	–
C Unit 15	construction	coal - unknown	660	ultra-supercritical	2024	–
D Unit 1	announced	coal - unknown	800	ultra-supercritical	2027	–
D Unit 2	announced	coal - unknown	800	ultra-supercritical	2028	–

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name	Owner
A Unit 1	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
A Unit 2	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
A Unit 3	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
A Unit 4	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
A Unit 5	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 10	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 11	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 12	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 13	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 6	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 7	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 8	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
B Unit 9	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
C Unit 14	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
C Unit 15	Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (UPRVUNL) [100.0%]
D Unit 1	State of Uttar Pradesh [50.0%], NTPC Ltd [50.0%]
D Unit 2	State of Uttar Pradesh [50.0%], NTPC Ltd [50.0%]

Project-level coal details

• Coal source(s): Saharpur Jamarpani mines
• Permit(s): June 21, 2016 – Environmental Clearance

Background

The power station comprises the following units:

• Unit 1 - 50 MW - 1967 - retired in 2017
• Unit 2 - 50 MW - 1968 - retired in 2017
• Units 3-5 - each 50 MW - 1968, 1969, 1971 - retired
• Unit 6 - 100 MW - 1973 - retired
• Unit 7 - 94 MW (derated) - 1974 - retired
• Unit 8 - 94 MW - 1975 - retired 2018
• Unit 9 - 200 MW - 1980
• Unit 10 - 200 MW - 1979
• Unit 11 - 200 MW - 1977
• Unit 12 - 200 MW - 1981
• Unit 13 - 200 MW - 1982

A Central Electricity Authority (CEA) report from September 2015 said that Units 3-6 had been retired.

Expansion plans

Obra C

In October 2007, UPRVUNL received a terms of reference for a 2 x 500 MW expansion (units 14-15) of the power station.

In August 2011, the Ministry of Coal listed UPRVUN as proposing a 1,600 MW expansion of the Obra Thermal Power Station. In November 2012, the Expert Appraisal Commiittee (Thermal) of the MoEF received a presentation from project consultant EQMS India and considered the project. The committee was informed that the configuration had been changed from 2x500 MW to 2x660 MW. The committee noted that "the proposal does not involve approval/clearance under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1971 which may be factually incorrect as a notified sanctuary is located in close vicinity." The committee also noted, "It was observed that the green belt development in and around the thermal power station seem dismal and the project proponent seem to have not given any serious attention in developing the same. The Committee therefore decided that the project proponent shall submit a detailed action plan along with budget allocation for development of green belt in a time bound manner and consisting of an in-built monitoring mechanism. The Committee also observed that the project proponent shall submit action plan for ecological restoration of ash dumps for which they may seek the assistance of Dr. C.R. Babu, Member, EAC and Emeritus Professor, University of Delhi. It was also observed that the ash pond seem very close to river and overflow from ash pond during monsoon cannot be ruled out. An action plan for mitigative measures of occurrence of such a case shall therefore be submitted."

In November 2015, UPRVUNL applied for environmental clearance for a 2 x 660 MW expansion. The units would be supercritical. According to the Broad Status report, environmental clearance was obtained on 21 June 2016 and forest clearance was obtained on 30 June 2016. The units are planned for commissioning in 2021.

Construction on the new units began in 2017. Commissioning was planned for 2023.

The May 2023 Broad Status report estimated that the first unit of Obra-C would be commissioned in September 2023 and the second unit in January 2024. The June 2023 Broad Status predicted that Unit 2 would be commissioned in April 2024. As per November 2023 Broad Status report, commissioning of Unit 1 was pushed back to January 2024 and Unit 2 to June 2024.

Obra D

In July 2023, the government of Uttar Pradesh reportedly approved a proposal for a new 1,600 MW addition to the Obra thermal power station: 'Obra-D.' The two-unit expansion project was to consist of two new 800 MW-each ultra supercritical coal-fired units, which would be jointly owned by the Uttar Pradesh government and the National Thermal Power Corporation.The project is to be implemented with an investment of ₹17,927 crore (USD 2.16 billion). Both the state government and the NTPC will invest in the project on 50:50 basis and have 30 percent equity while the remaining 70 percent will come from loan.

The two companies had allegedly signed an agreement to build the new units in February 2023 at the Global Investors Summit, in reaction to increased power demand in the previous summer.

In September 2023, NTPC signed a supplementary joint venture agreement with state-owned UPRVUNL to take on joint development of the Obra D project, as well as proposals at Meja Thermal Power Project and Anpara power station. The supplementary agreement amended an original joint venture between the companies in 2008. Reporting in April 2024 announced that an additional amendment to the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) had been signed by NTPC in order to allocate UPRVUNL land for the Obra-D project.

News in February 2024 stated that soil testing and ground work was already underway to prepare for construction of Obra-D, although the project had not yet secured environmental permits at the time of reporting.

Financing

Obra-C: According to Broad Status reports, financial close to the finance the plant was achieved in 2013 and then in 2019 for additional amount. However, no further details are available.

Obra-D: The project is to be implemented with an investment of ₹17,927 crore (USD 2.16 billion). Both the state government and the NTPC will invest in the project on 50:50 basis and have 30 percent equity while the remaining 70 percent will come from loan.

Articles and Resources

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.