KSK Power Venture plc, the LSE power listed company with interests in multiple power plants and businesses across India, has synchronised its first 600-MW unit of the 3,600-MW KSK Mahanadi power plant (6×600 MW) in Chhattisgarh with the national grid on May 18, 2013, and commenced power generation.
This large fuel integrated power plant has many firsts to its credit and the first 600-MW unit will now go through the necessary stabilisation procedures before commencement of power supplies to contracted utilities.
The single-location greenfield private power plant would be the largest power generation initiative of KSK Group with a capital investment of over $3.6 billion. The plant once completed would help address the power requirements of multiple states across the country, namely Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Andhra Pradesh and others.
Power generation will be based on long-term coal supply arrangements with Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation and Goa Industrial Development Corporation from the committed Morga-II and Gare Pelma-III coal blocks respectively. Besides, the plant will also enjoy the benefit of tapering linkage arrangements with Coal India Ltd.
In pursuance of the recent decision by the Group of Ministers, to address fuel issues surrounding highly progressed power projects, including KSK Mahanadi, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has accorded clearance to GMDC in respect of Morga-II coal block, thereby clearing the way for prospecting of the coal block by GMDC.
KSKPV anticipates that in the immediate term fuel supplies of the power plant will be met through tapering linkage granted to the company in November 2008.
Commenting on the developments, T.L. Sankar, Chairman, KSK Power Venture plc, said, “We look forward to the planned commissioning of the balance of the other five 600-MW units, creating a power project setting benchmarks in efficiencies for power generation and supply.”
