CESC Ltd plans to set up a thermal plant at Haldia

Kolkata: CESC Ltd has firmed up plans to set up a 2,000 MW capacity thermal power plant at Haldia in three successive phases. Implementation of the first phase of 600 MW is estimated to cost Rs 2,400 crore, according to company release. It states that the thermal power plant would be set up at Baneswar Chawk near Jhikurkhali in East Mednipur district of West Bengal. The first phase of the power plant would comprise two units of 300 MW capacity each. This would be followed by the implementation of Phase II and III of the project making a total of 2,000 MW. The estimated annual demand of coal for the first phase has been pegged at 2.7 mt annually and the Union Ministry of Coal has provided for coal linkages for the first phase of the project. Preliminary work on the infrastructure for the project has already begun and power generation is expected to commence by the middle of 2011, according to the release.