Odisha Seeks Coal Linkage For OPGC

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has urged the Centre to consider supplying coal under bridge linkage for the thermal power project of Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) at Jharsuguda.

OPGC is constructing its power expansion project (2×660 MW) at Ib thermal power station. The state PSU has set a target to commission the plant by the third quarter of FY 2117-18. An investment of Rs.2900 crore has already been made in the project as on December 31, 2015.

However, it could not feed adequate raw material to run the expanded power project as there was a delay in developing the allocated coal blocks.

The coal ministry has allocated two coal blocks-Manoharpur and Deep side Manoharpur- to Odisha Coal and Power Ltd (OCPL) to feed the power project of OPGC. However, coal production can start only by 2019 and peak rated capacity of the mine will be achieved by March 2022.

“In order to bridge the gap between power plant commissioning and coal production from the mine, OPGC needs a bridge linkage to the extent of 16.68 MMT over a period of four years from FY 2017-18 to FY 2020-21,” said chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi in a letter to coal secretary Anil Swarup.

He said this would help in achieving the commercial operation target of the end use power plant.

“I would request you to kindly consider the case of OPGC for grant of the ‘Bridge Linkage’ in its favour. This will definitely help in meeting the goal of 24×7 power for all programme, a joint initiative of Government of India and Government of Odisha,” said Padhi.

Under the ‘bridge linkage’, power plants of public sector undertakings will get coal supply from Coal India till their captive coal mines become operational.

As per the guidelines of the coal ministry, it will act as a short-term linkage to bridge the gap between the requirement of coal by a thermal power plant and the start of production from the linked coal block till such time the production starts.