National Thermal Power Corporation awaits PPA with government

Kadiri (Anantapur): National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is awaiting the new Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the state government based on which it would take a position on executing the 1000- megawatt solar power project at N.P.Kunta near Kadiri in Anantapur district. Under the first phase NTPC has already executed 250 MW power generation. It had entered into an MOU with the state government for executing the 1000 MW power generation project.

According to NTPC sources, in the first phase Indian players had executed the first phase of the 250 MW installation project. In the second phase it is going for international bidding and the company that quotes the lowest price would be encouraged, thereby it would immensely benefit the power consumer and make solar power supply competitive, the sources said.

Solar power which used to be purchased at Rs.12-16 per unit has now nosedived to Rs.3-4 per unit. India being a grey area for solar projects, many international firms viewing for business would participate in the bidding, the sources explained.

Recently the Solar Energy Corporation of India had called for tenders for executing projects worth 1000 MW of solar power and the price quoted was Rs.4 per unit. Dubbed as Ultra-Mega Solar Power Plant, the NTPC has acquired 6,300 acres at N.P.Kunta mandal , 25 km from Kadiri.

In the phase one, Tata group built the 100 mw plant for the NTPC while BHEL, Lanco group and Sterling and Wilson built 50 mw power plants each adding up to 200 mw of power already being produced and supplying to the National Power Grid. In the second phase 6x125 mw plants would be established and NTPC is in the process of calling for international bids and works would begin once the remaining land required for the project is handed over to them.

NTPC is producing 110 mw in its projects in UP, MP, Odisha, Haryana and Andaman states, all put together while in Anantapur alone it is currently producing 200 mw and by 2018, 1000 mw.