Tamil Nadu is set to receive an additional 2,640 MW of electricity by March next year with the near completion of the Ennore Special Economic Zone (SEZ) thermal plant in Tiruvallur and the Udangudi thermal plant in Thoothukudi.

The Ennore SEZ thermal station, with 1,320 MW (2x660 MW) capacity and an estimated cost of Rs. 18,000 crore, is 70% complete. Initiated in 2014 under the AIADMK regime, the project began in 2016 but faced repeated delays. TNPDCL Chairman J Radhakrishnan has urged BHEL to commission the plant by March 2026. Meanwhile, the 1,320 MW Udangudi thermal plant achieved first synchronization with the grid, marking a key step toward commercial operation, expected by December this year.

Tamil Nadu’s peak power demand is projected to exceed 22,000 MW in summer 2026. Officials said even partial commissioning of these units would significantly reduce reliance on costly power purchases, strengthening the state’s electricity supply position.