3 Bihar power plants to be transferred to NTPC, MoU signed

Speed Post News Network

Patna : With an objective of improving the performance of Power Sector in Bihar, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Government of Bihar (GoB) and NTPC Limited on May 15, 2018, at Patna in the presence of Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power and New & Renewable Energy, R K Singh and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

The MoU envisages transfer of Barauni Thermal Power Station (720 MW) to NTPC. In addition to this, Bihar State Power Generation Company’s (BSPGCL) equities in Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited (KBUN) and Nabinagar Power Generating Company (Pvt.) Limited (NPGC) will also be transferred to NTPC.

All the three power generation facilities are envisaged to be transferred to NTPC from the effective date to be notified by Government of Bihar through a Statutory Transfer Scheme. The transfer of these power stations to NTPC will result in their optimal & efficient utilisation, bring the tariff down and benefit the people of Bihar at large. Power from all the three power station shall be available to Bihar as before after approval by the Ministry of Power, Government of India (GOI).

Energy Minister, Bihar, Bijendra Prasad Yadav; Principal Secretary, Department of Energy, Bihar, Pratyaya Amrit, and CMD, NTPC Limited Gurdeep Singh were among the dignitaries present at the occasion, according to a PIB release.

NTPC, a Maharatna Company under Ministry of Power, GOI, is the largest power generating company of India with a total installed capacity of 53,651 MW (including JVs) from coal, gas, hydro, solar and wind power projects.

Barauni Thermal Power Station (720 MW) is located at Begusarai district in North Bihar. The Plant comprises Stage-I (2×110 MW) under advance stages of R&M and Stage-II (2×250 MW) (under construction). NTPC with its expertise in construction of power projects and contract management capabilities is expected to complete the balance works and achieve sustained commercial operation of units in a time bound manner.

Nabinagar Power Generating Company (Pvt) Limited is a 50:50 Joint Venture Company of NTPC Limited and Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited (BSPGCL). The Company is developing a 1980 MW (3×660 MW) Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Project in district Aurangabad, Bihar. The project is under-construction.

Kanti Bijli Utpadan Nigam Limited (KBUNL) is a subsidiary company of NTPC Limited in Joint Venture with Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited (BSPGCL). At present, NTPC and BSPGCL own 72.64% and 27.36% equity holding in KBUNL respectively. KBUNL owns and operates Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station (MTPS) (2×110 MW+ 2×195 MW) located at Kanti in Muzaffarpur district, North Bihar. The Plant is under operation.