Odisha opposes Centre's plan to phase out four NTPC units.

The Odisha government has taken exception to the Centre's proposal to phase out four old thermal units of NTPC Ltd' with combined capacity of 250 MW at its Talcher Thermal power station (TTPS).

The retirement of these four units, each with capacity of 62.5 MW, would mean a loss of 250 MW to Odisha since the entire power generated by NTPC's TTPS is supplied to state owned bulk power purchaser Gridco as per a power purchase agreement (PPA). The four units were identified to be phased out since they are old units commissioned during 1967-69.

'Over the years, NTPC has undertaken massive renovation and modernisation works of TTPS under various phases with a capital expenditure to the tune of Rs. 750 crore which has already been approved and capitalised by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) up to 2014 and the said amount is in the process of realisation by NTPC from Gridco through tariff. The CERC by its order dated June 19, 2002 has extended the useful life of TTPS for 20 years (up to March 31, 2021)', Sangramjit Nayak, additional secretary (energy), Odisha, said in a letter to chief engineer (data management & load forecasting division), Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

BS