Reliance Energy has proposed to set up a 12,000 MW thermal power plant at Hirma in Jharsuguda district of Orissa at an investment of Rs.48,000 crore. The company has proposed to put up the plant in two phases. In the first phase, the company intends to set up six units of 660 MW each at a cost of about Rs.18,000 crore.

According to sources, this development was a revival of the company's old proposal to set up a 4,000 MW power plant at Hirma. The earlier proposal was submitted to the state government in the mid-1990s and the company had then tied up with Hong Kong-based Consolidated Electric Power Asia Ltd (CEPA) to set up the venture. However, the project did not move forward owing to delays in the finalization of power purchase agreements with different states. Later, CEPA withdrew from the project, further hindering its progress.

In the new proposal, the company has scaled up the proposed capacity three fold to 12,000 MW.

Reliance Energy's is involved in Orisssa’s power sector as can be seen through its three electricity distribution firms-Nesco, Wesco and South-following its acquisition of BSES.