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Ropar power station is an operating power station of at least 840-megawatts (MW) in Ghanauli, Rupnagar, Punjab state, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating. It is also known as Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Ropar power station | Ghanauli, Rupnagar, Rupnagar, Punjab state, India | 31.0418094, 76.5845001 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6: 31.0418094, 76.5845001
- Unit Expansion: 31.0417, 76.5847
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | retired | coal - bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1984 | 2018 |
| Unit 2 | retired | coal - bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1985 | 2018 |
| Unit 3 | operating | coal - bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1988 | – |
| Unit 4 | operating | coal - bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1989 | – |
| Unit 5 | operating | coal - bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1992 | – |
| Unit 6 | operating | coal - bituminous | 210 | subcritical | 1993 | – |
| Unit Expansion | cancelled | coal - unknown | 1320 | unknown | – | – |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd (PSPCL) [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd (PSPCL) [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd (PSPCL) [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd (PSPCL) [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd (PSPCL) [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd (PSPCL) [100.0%] |
| Unit Expansion | Punjab State Power Corp Ltd (PSPCL) [100.0%] |
Background on existing power station
Ropar power station consists of six units of 210MW each near Village Ghanauli.[1]
On December 20, 2017, the Punjab cabinet approved the closure of inefficient power units at Ropar and GNDTP Bathinda power station. Under the decision, units 1-2 of Ropar will close January 1, 2018.[2]
According to the India government, the two units were retired in August 2018.[3]
Proposed expansion
In early January 2012 engineers assessed the Ropar plant as a possible alternative location to Mukerian (the Mukerian power station) for a 1320 MW coal plant, saying basic materials such as land, water, rail linkage, initial man power, and office space is already available on-site and would greatly reduce initial set up costs.[4]
The Punjab Newsline reported that "nearby villagers are already facing pollution and water logging problems."[5]
According to The Tribune, the ash ponds surrounding the Ropar power station leached into groundwater. The Punjab Pollution Control Board and the PSEB were "asked to take necessary steps to check this menace". In addition, air pollution from the plant was found to be excessive. As a result, the chimney of the plant will increase in height by 200 ft in order to "disperse the pollutants over a wider area so as to minimize their intensity." Farmers have also complained that their crop production has decreased due to water and air pollutants.[6]
However, in 2013 a Terms of Reference was issued for the power station in Mukerian,[7] and appears cancelled for Ropar.
Environmental impact
A November 2023 report by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) argued that the ongoing air pollution crisis in the New Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) had been made worse by the failure of nine out of 11 coal plants in the region to comply with air pollution standards. Ropar power station reportedly exceeded standards for sulphur dioxide emissions during the 17-month reporting period from April 2022 to August 2023. After repeatedly postponing emissions compliance deadlines, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change set the power station's compliance deadline for 2026.[8][9]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant," Punjab State Electricity Board, accessed July 2014.
- ↑ "Punjab cabinet okays closure of Bathinda, Ropar power units," Times of India, Dec 20, 2017
- ↑ "All India installed capacity of power sector," India CEA, updated through August 31, 2018
- ↑ "Punjab govt to set up 2 thermal units," Industry Monitor, January 8, 2012.
- ↑ "Two 660 MW thermal units may come up at Ropar," Punjab Newsline, January 4, 2012.
- ↑ Dr. G.S. Dhillon, "Ultra-mega thermal plants Mega flyash problems," December 26, 2008.
- ↑ Terms of Reference for Units 1 & 2, India MoEF, December 10, 2013.
- ↑ "Environmental Status of Coal-Based Thermal Power Plants in the National Capital Region," Centre for Science and Environment, November 24, 2023
- ↑ "11 coal-based power plants around Capital not complying with emission norms: Study," Energy Central, November 27, 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.
