India

Colakoglu Investment will invest $1 billion to generate 600MW of electricity from coal deposits found in the Thar Desert.

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the 100 MW furnace oil-fired Quick Rental Power Plant and laid the foundation of a 335- MW dual-fuel combined cycle power plant at Meghnaghat.

NHPC Limited's 45 MW Nimoo Bazgo hydroelectric project unlikely to go on steam by its latest expected commissioning date of October 2011.

Boxing up of units one and two have been successfully completed at Teesta Low Dam III hydroelectric power project (HEP), under implementation by the state-run power major, NHPC Limited. In addition, hydro-mechanical (H&M) works at the project site are progressing as per schedule. These are welcome developments, as the HEP has, so far, witnessed myriad hurdles to its execution, ranging from strikes called by Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM), which disrupted supplies of the critical construction material needed for its execution, delay in forest clearance and slope failure in the powerhouse area, and problems in supply of equipment from BHEL, which has been awarded the contract for the electro-mechanical package. As per the latest progress report, unit one is expected to be synchronized by March 2012. The Teesta-III project envisages the construction of a 32.5 m high barrage across the Teesta river and a 125m x 22m x 56m surface power house, with four Kaplan turbine generator units, of 33 MW capacity, each. The project would afford an annual energy generation of 594.07 million units (MU), assuming 90% performance.

Haryana Power is blaming Northern Coalfields Limited for the reduced efficiency of its coal-based thermal power station at Panipat.

The government of Bangladesh has estimated an expenditure of Tk 16,511 crore in power and energy sector in the next fiscal year which was Tk 15,237 crore in the outgoing fiscal.

 After incorporation of suggestions received through public hearings in its EIA and EMP reports, SJVN's 770 MW Luhri HEP is now expected to receive environmental clearance by December 15, 2011, after these changes are evaluated by the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The project is also likely to get forest clearance by November 2011, subsequent to physical inspections by the ministry. Further, land acquisition is expected to be concluded by October 2011. Notably, the HEP envisages the construction of a 6 m high concrete gravity dam, on the river Satluj, near Kepu village, with a gross reservoir capacity of 35 million cubic meters, as well as a 38.13 km long head-race-tunnel (HRT) with a 9 m diameter, terminating into a surge shaft of 9 m diameter. The plant involves an underground power house of internal dimensions 156.4 m x 23.5 m and 44 m height, to house four generating units, each, of 193.75 MW capacity, to utilize a tunnel discharge of 480 cusecs and a net head of 181 m. Based on a 95% functional installed capacity and a 90% dependable year, the project is likely to afford an annual energy generation of 3,117.4 Gwh. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 4,795 crore at June 2005 price levels.

Porika Balram Naik, a Member of Parliament (MP) from Andhra Pradesh (AP), has asked the government for natural gas allocation to Agri Gold Projects Limited's 400 MW combined cycle natural gas-based thermal power project (TPP) in the state. To shore up his case, the MP has argued that the group, with a turnover of around Rs 300 crore, already has five bio-mass based power plants operating and has entered into Power Purchase Agreements with APTRANSCO and TATA Power Trading Company Limited. It has also been supplying power to APTRANSCO since 2003. The power project is proposed to be set up over the Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Kovur areas of the southern state.  

Reliance Power Limited is still to recieve gas allocation for its 2400MW natural gas power plant after several attempts to persuade the government for it.

A total of 7,87,123 villages out of a target of 8,03,100 have been electrified by the state-run power major, NHPC Limited, during the FY 2010-11.

Bangladesh will add 15,000-MW electricity would be added to the national grid by 2016 through using liquid fuel, coal, duel fuel and renewable energy.

Adani Power has commissioned the second 660MW supercritical power unit at its 4,620MW coal-based Mundra power plant in Gujarat, India.

ABB will supply a turnkey electrical balance of plant solution including a132 kilovolt (kV) substation that will support a 360 megawatt power plant in Bangladesh.

Astonfield Renewable Resources and Grupo T-Solar Global will cooperate in developing a 5MW solar PV project in Rajasthan, India.

Energy generation for NEEPCO during 2010-11 has been 5,093 MU, as against the target of 5,426 MU, representing an achievement of 93.86%. This is, however, 12% higher than the energy generated last year.

NTPC's thermal power plants are also suffering on account of improper and visibly insufficient coal evacuation facilities. Most affected are its Kahalgaon, Talcher and Farakka thermal power stations.