Staff Reporter

Efforts to overcome hindrances in the power sector are finally paying off, with the nation having managed to achieve great heights in the areas of capacity addition, electricity generation and technology. 8Although the government authorities have repeatedly faced flak for the sector's supposedly dismal performance over the past five years, the Central Electricity Authority's (CEA) recent report highlighting power sector accomplishments proves otherwise. 8The nation has benefitted immensely from the technological advancement during the previous plan period. Nine super critical technology units, totaling 6,080 MW, have been commissioned between FY 2007-08 and FY 2011-12. These include Adani, Mundra, Tata Mundra, Sipat, Jhajjhar, among others. 8For the 12th plan period, 24,000 MW of supercritical plants have been targeted for commissioning. 8One of the key areas of progress has been the extensive usage of gas insulated sub-stations of 400 kV and 765 kV levels, which has subsequently lead to reduced land requirement. 8As per the recent estimates, the land requirement is down 50%, from 120 acres to 60 acres for 765KV substation and 60 acres to 30 acres for 400KV substations. 8Moreover, large number of 765 KV D/C lines have been constructed to enable large capacity transmission on the same right of way (RoW). This has significantly reduced the land requirement from 128 metres to 69 metres. 8Besides this, the world's highest voltage line station of 1,200 kV transmission line, which was set up with indigenous technology, has been successfully tested. 8Further, the world's longest 800 kV HVDC multi-terminal bi-pole link is currently under implementation. The 2,000 km long link will connect Biswanath Chairali in north eastern region to Agra in western region.

IFFCO Chhattisgarh Power Ltd. - a joint venture of IFFCO and Chhattisgarh State Power Holding Company Ltd (CSPHCL) - has invited bids under EPC basis for its proposed 2x660 MW super critical thermal power project in the state. 8The scope of work for the contractor shall include Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) on a lump sum, turn key basis for the complete plant inclusive of the BTG and BOP packages for the two supercritical, pulverised coal-fired units. 8The contractor will be responsible for design, engineering, manufacturing, testing at the Manufacturing Works before despatch, supply, transportation to site, erection, commissioning, trial run and performance testing for the 1,320 MW plant. 8The first unit of 660 MW is expected to be commissioned within 44 months and second unit of 660 MW within 48 months from date of Notice to Proceed. (Click on our 'Tenders' section for more information) For reference purposes, the website details here the salient features of IPCL's proposed 1,320 MW plant at Village Salka in the Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh. 8The estimated capital expenditure for the proposed project is planned with a debt to equity ratio of 70:30. The debt would be financed by banks and financial institutions and the equity would be arranged by ICPL. 8The power generated at the power station will be shared between joint venture partners - CSPHCL and IFFCO - in 90:10 ratio. CSPHCL or its nominee will arrange distribution of its power within the State from the proposed EHV sub-station at Raipur. IFFCO shall wheel its share through the state CTU or STU grid to other states. 8Evacuation of Power from the proposed Power Station will be done at 400 kV level. Power from the plant switchyard will be evacuated through one double circuit line to the proposed 400 kV sub-station of CSEB located at Raipur. 8Coal will be used as the main fuel. Light Diesel Oil (LDO) and Heavy Furnace Oil (HFO) will be used for warm up and flame stabilization. Coal linkage from Tara Central Coal Block for the project has already been allotted by the Ministry of Coal. 8The Power Station will normally operate as base load plant. 8A flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) unit shall for the time being not deemed to be necessary for the proposed 2x660 MW project. However, the steam generator, flue gas path sections, induced draft fans and chimney shall be arranged such as to allow later easy installation of any FGD facility. 8Environmental Clearance for the project has been obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.  

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