NTPC to start work on nation’s first USC thermal plant soon

Work on the country's first Ultra Super Critical (USC) thermal power plant to produce 1,000 mw in first phase will soon start at Pudimadaka in Visakhapatnam as NTPC is in the process of finalising bids for boiler and turbine-generator packages. 

The USC plant, being set up by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), will have 4x1000 mw units in all and is expected to become fully operational by 2020, according to Principal Secretary (Energy) Ajay Jain.

"This is the first time in the country we are taking up a USC unit of 1,000 mw. We now have only 800 mw super critical power plants in Gujarat and Krishnapatnam (AP)," Jain said here on Tuesday. 

Power Generation Corporation of AP has also prepared a detailed project report for another 4x1000 mw USC power plant in Srikakulam district, he said. "We are also going in a big way in production of clean energy with plans to generate 4,000 mw of solar power by 2018.

We have already commissioned a 200 mw solar power unit in Anantapuramu district and another 50 mw unit will be commissioned in October. In March next, another 350 mw will come into production," the Principal Secretary said. Similarly, waste-to-energy plants to generate 63 mw of electricity were also being built and would be ready in the next 10 to 12 months in different municipalities. The Fibre Grid project launched by the AP government has become a role model in the country with the Centre asking other states to replicate it. 

"We have so far completed laying 15,000 kms of optical fibre cable out of the total 22,361 kms planned. The balance will be completed by July, but the problem we are facing is in getting adequate number of set-top boxes," Jain said. 

The state government was negotiating with companies in China and Portugal for supply of the triple-play set-top boxes that would enable telephone, cable television and Internet connectivity to each household.