MPPGCL, BHEL to Complete Satpura Expansion Project by Mid-2013

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources India (Delhi, India)--With most of the major commissioning activities near completion, state-run Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited (MPPGCL) (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh) and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BSE:500103) (BHEL) (New Delhi, India) are now optimistic of bringing the two new, 250-megawatt (MW) units at Satpura thermal power station on-stream by June this year. As per the original schedule, these units were slated to commence generation by February 2011. Delays in the boiler erection and certain major balance-of-plant work are reported to be the reason for the deferral.

BHEL is the main plant contractor for the project, while McNally Bharat Engineering Company Limited (BSE:532629) (Kolkata, India) is executing the balance-of-plant units. The power station currently has nine operational coal-fired power units. The ongoing 500-MW expansion project involves installation of two pulverized coal-fired boilers to produce steam to drive two 250-MW steam turbine-generator sets, along with associated balance-of-plant work. The construction for the units began in February 2009.

The coal requirement for the new units has been estimated at 2.58 million tons per annum, which will be sourced from Western Coalfield Limited (WCL) (Nagpur, Maharashtra) sources. WCL is a subsidiary of Indian coal major Coal India Limited (BSE:533278) (Kolkata, India). The units will meet their water requirement of 1,855 cubic meters per hour from the adjoining Satpura reservoir.

Developed in two stages during late 1960's and early 1980's, Satpura thermal power station has an installed generation capacity of 1,142.50 MW. The first stage of the plant comprises of five 62.5 MW units supplied GE Energy (NYSE:GE) (Fairfield, Connecticut) and Babcock & Wilcox Company (NYSE:BWC) (Charlotte, North Carolina), while the Stage 2 units were developed by BHEL. The first unit of the plant was commissioned in October 1967.

MPPGCL, a wholly owned company of the state government of Madhya Pradesh, is engaged in the generation of electricity in the state. It is a successor of the erstwhile Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board (Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh). The company currently has an installed generation capacity of 3,847.5 MW, comprising 2,932.5 MW of thermal and 915 MW of hydro power plants.

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