Santaldih Thermal Power Station
| Part of the Global Coal Plant Tracker, a Global Energy Monitor project. |
| Related coal trackers: |
Santaldih Thermal Power Station is an operating power station of at least 500-megawatts (MW) in Santaldih, Ragunathpur, Purulia, West Bengal, India with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Santaldih Thermal Power Station | Santaldih, Ragunathpur, Purulia, West Bengal, India | 23.6013, 86.4666 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8: 23.6013, 86.4666
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year | Emergency/Backup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Retired | coal: bituminous[1] | 120 | subcritical | 1974 | 2010 | False |
| Unit 2 | Retired | coal: bituminous[1] | 120 | subcritical | 1975 | 2010 | False |
| Unit 3 | Retired | coal: bituminous[1] | 120 | subcritical | 1978 | 2009 | False |
| Unit 4 | Retired | coal: bituminous[1] | 120 | subcritical | 1981 | 2008 | False |
| Unit 5 | Operating | coal: bituminous[1] | 250 | subcritical | 2007 | – | False |
| Unit 6 | Operating | coal: bituminous[1] | 250 | subcritical | 2011 | – | False |
| Unit 7 | Announced[2] | coal: unknown[1] | 800[2] | supercritical[2] | – | – | False |
| Unit 8 | Announced[2] | coal: unknown[1] | 800[2] | supercritical[2] | – | – | False |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | NTPC Ltd [100%] | NTPC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | NTPC Ltd [100%] | NTPC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 3 | NTPC Ltd [100%] | NTPC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 4 | NTPC Ltd [100%] | NTPC Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 5 | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100%][2] | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 6 | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100%][2] | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 7 | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100%][2] | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100.0%] |
| Unit 8 | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100%][2] | The West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd [100.0%] |
Project-level coal details
- Coal source(s): domestic
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
The existing power station consists of the following units:[3][4]
- Unit 1 - 120 MW - 1974 (retired FY 2010/2011; demolished between 2014 and 2016)
- Unit 2 - 120 MW - 1975 (retired FY 2010/2011; demolished between 2014 and 2016)
- Unit 3 - 120 MW - 1978 (retired FY 2009; demolished between 2014 and 2016)
- Unit 4 - 120 MW - 1981 (retired FY 2008; demolished between 2014 and 2016)
- Unit 5 - 250 MW - 2007
- Unit 6 - 250 MW - 2011
Expansion
An additional unit 6 (250 MW) became operable in November 2011.[5]
Units 7 and 8 (660 MW each) were also proposed. According to a report in The Hindu, NTPC "has already backtracked from its initial offer to set up" the additional units. The article quoted NTPC Chairman Roy Chowdhury: "We explored the possibility of setting up a facility replacing the existing age old units of Santhaldih power station (under state utility). However, the available infrastructure was inadequate to ensure project viability."[6]
On its website the West Bengal Power Development Corporation states that the company plans to add two 500 MW units (units 7 and 8), and "the process of starting one 500 MW unit is under operation."[7]
As of August 2015, the project had yet to receive environmental permits and appeared to be deferred or abandoned.
As of May 2025, expansion plans appeared to be revived, as West Bengal Power Development Corporation Ltd. (WBPDCL) was planning to set up two new 800 MW supercritical or ultra-supercritical units at Santaldih power station.[8]
In June 2026, the West Bengal government invited bids for private companies to develop the proposed 2 x 800 MW supercritical expansion at Santaldih. The project would reportedly be developed on a design, build, finance, own and operate (DBFOO) basis.[9][10]
Expansion Financing
As of June 2026, no project-specific financing arrangements had been identified for the revived Santaldih expansion. Public sources described the proposal as a PPP/DBFOO-style project, but did not identify a selected bidder, project cost, financial close, debt-equity split, or named lender.[11]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 (PDF) https://wberc.gov.in/sites/default/files/TP%20103-1.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 "Order of the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission in Case No. OA-510/24-25" (PDF). West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission. 2025-05-06. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-06-08. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
- ↑ West Bengal Power Development Corporation, "Santaldih Thermal Power Station (STPS)", West Bengal Power Development Corporation, accessed February 2012.
- ↑ "Auction details," WBPDC, December 2012, cached
- ↑ "Monthly Report on Broad Status of Thermal Power Projects in the Country" Government of India Ministry of Power, February 2012.
- ↑ "NTPC may drop 1,600-MW Katwa thermal project," The Hindu Business Line, July 18, 2011
- ↑ West Bengal Power Development Corporation, "Future Projects", West Bengal Power Development Corporation website, accessed July 2014.
- ↑ “Order of the West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission in Case No. OA-510/24-25,” West Bengal Electricity Regulatory Commission, May 6, 2025
- ↑ “West Bengal Invites Bids For Two Thermal Power Units Worth Rs 22,000 Cr,” BW Business World, June 16, 2026
- ↑ “Bengal invites bids for two new thermal power units worth ₹22,000cr,” Times of India, June 16, 2026
- ↑ "Request for Qualification: Selection of Bidder for setting up of 2x800MW TPP at STPS" (PDF). Government of West Bengal, Department of Power. Retrieved June 2026.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help)
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.
