NTPC plans to set up two pit-head coal-based ultra mega power projects with 4,000 MW capacity each at Lara in Chhattisgarh and Darlipali in Orissa.

NTPC has planned to invest Rs.80,000 crore for the proposed project. Phase-I of the project will involve capacity addition of 800 MW each in Lara and Darlipali and the total capacity to be added will be around 4,000 MW each.

NTPC's plan coincides with the power ministry's decision to develop, with private sector involvement, five mega projects in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Power Finance Corporation has been appointed as the nodal agency for this purpose and the power ministry expects that awards for such projects will be given to the bidders by December 2006.

The Power Ministry has envisaged capacity addition of 62,000 MW in the XI Plan period (against 41,000 MW in the X Plan period), out of which NTPC is likely to contribute 20,000 MW out of which 3,400 MW would be in the hydropower sector.

Also See:

EoIs for pithead coal and coastal power projects soon (21-Jan-06)