NLC India, a coal and lignite mining and power producer, expects to start commercial operation from the first of the three units of its new Ghatampur thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh, on 31 July, 2024. The ‘commercial operation date’ or the date from which power purchase agreement (PPA) period starts, for the second and third units is expected to be in November this year, and March 2025.

Unit-I was connected to the grid in November with the ‘balance of plant’, mainly, ash and coal handling plants, work completed. 

The Ghatampur thermal power plant is being set up with an investment of Rs 19,406 crore by a joint venture of NLC India and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam, in which the former holds 51 percent stake. The sales of electricity from the Ghatampur station will add Rs 500-600 crore to the company’s net profit.

Seventy-five percent of the electricity generated is to be sold to UP Power Corporation, while the rest of the generation will be sold to Assam.