Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station
Raghunathpur power station is a 1,200-megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station in West Bengal, India.
An additional 2 x 660 MW of coal capacity is proposed at the site.
Location
The photo below shows the project at Raghunathpur, in Purlia district.
Background
Phase I, Units 1-2
The power station was proposed by Damodar Valley Corporation as two 600 MW units slated to be commissioned in 2013.[1][2]
In March 2014, it was reported that "the first phase was supposed to become operational in November 2010." However, because of major issues such as non-availability of land, water and rail connectivity, the project was delayed.[3]
Unit 1 was commissioned in August 2014.[4] Unit 2 was commissioned in January 2016. However, the two units did not enter commercial operation until March 2016.[5]
Financing for Phase I
In March 2009, a financing agreement for Phase I was closed. US$750.85 million in loans was provided by the State Bank of India, Power Finance Corporation, and West Bengal Infrastructure Development Finance. US$321.76 million in equity was provided by the Government of Jharkhand, Government of India, and West Bengal Government. The State Bank of India acted as the financial advisor to the sponsors.[6]
In June 2010, a refinancing agreement for Phase I was closed. US$31.37 million in loans was provided by the State Bank of India and SBI Capital Markets.[7]
Phase II, Units 3-4
A second phase of 2 x 660 MW was also proposed.[3] In 2015, Phase II was listed in the Broad Status report as under construction[4] and planned for completion in India's 13th plan (2018-2023).[8] In 2017, the company continued to list Phase II on its website among "Projects under construction."[9]
However, in the July 2016 Broad Status Report, Phase II was no longer listed. Photographs of the site showed no construction beyond Units 1 and 2.[10]
As of January 2020, there had been no further developments, and plans for units 3-4 appeared to be deferred or abandoned.
However, on January 11, 2023, the project was submitted to the Expert Appraisal Committee to receive Terms of Reference.[11][12]
Citizen opposition
It has been reported that the power utility was planning to build a 10-km pipeline from a local dam to the plant for its water needs. "For constructing the pipeline, it had run into land acquisition problems ... the physical construction of the pipeline faced opposition from locals who demanded jobs in addition to the compensation. 'There are about 2, 200 land-losers at the moment and their number is going to increase as land is acquired for ensuring water connectivity and rail connectivity,' said J.K. Singh, Chief Engineer of the project, adding that it was not possible to provide jobs to every land-loser."[13]
DVC looks to sell plant
According to a May 2017 newspaper article, DVC is saddled with a surplus capacity of 1,900 MW, causing a loss of Rs 1,000 crore in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017. In order to reduce its finance costs, the company is planning to divest the Raghunathpur plant to Neyveli Lignite Corporation, a deal that has been approved by the Centre and the Jharkhand government and now awaits the clearance of the Bengal government.[14]
Project Details
Owner: Damodar Valley Corporation
Location: Raghunathpur village, Purulia district, West Bengal
Coordinates: 23.6219101, 86.6607034 (exact)
Status: Units 1-2: Operating; Units 3-4: Announced
Nameplate capacity: Phase I: 1200 MW (Units 1&2: 600 MW); Phase II: 1,320 MW (Units 3&4: 660 MW)
Type: Supercritical
Start year: 2014 (Unit 1); 2016 (Unit 2)
Coal Type:
Coal Source:
Estimated annual CO2:
Source of financing: phase I: US$750.85 million in debt from the State Bank of India, Power Finance Corporation, and West Bengal Infrastructure Development Finance; US$321.76 million in equity from the Government of Jharkhand, Government of India, and West Bengal Government;[6] US$31.37 million in debt from the State Bank of India and SBI Capital Markets[7]
Permits and applications:
- Phase I: Environmental Clearance, India MoEF, October 18, 2007;
- Phase II: Environmental Clearance, India MoEF, May 23, 2012
Resources and articles
References
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country" Government of India Ministry of Power, September 2012.
- ↑ Damodar Valley Corporation, "Growth Plans: 11th Plan Capacity Addition Programme", Damodar Valley Corporation website, accessed November 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Pinak Ghosh, "DVC trims power target", The Telegraph, March 31, 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Broad Status Report, India Central Electrical Authority, April 2015
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, March 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Preview of Raghunathpur Coal-Fired Power Plant (1200MW) | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Preview of Raghunathpur Coal-Fired Power Plant 2010 (1200MW) | Transaction | IJGlobal". ijglobal.com. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
- ↑ "Supply of coal to Power Plants," India Ministry of Power, July 23, 2015
- ↑ "Growth Plans - Generation," Damodar Valley Corporation, accessed May 2017
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country," Government of India Ministry of Power, July 2016
- ↑ "Form 1," Raghunathpur -II Thermal Power Project (2X660 Mw), accessed January 2023
- ↑ "Agenda of Expert Appraisal Committee," MOEF, Meeting scheduled January 25, 2023
- ↑ "DVC project to be ready by March after 18-month delay" Shiv Sahay Singh, The Hindu, December 17, 2012.
- ↑ "Capacity headache for DVC," The Telegraph, 12 May 2017
