Unit-3 of the 3×660-mw Nabinagar super thermal power project in Bihar is facing delays in starting commercial operations.
The said unit had achieved grid synchronization on March 28, 2021 and it was expected to start commercial operations within six months, which is by September 27, 2022.
Nabinagar Power Generating Company Pvt Ltd — 50:50 joint venture between NTPC and Bihar State Power Holding Company Ltd – is the owner of the Nabinagar power plant, taking shape in Bihar’s Aurangabad district.
Unit-3 is facing delays in completing the last-mile erection and commissioning activities, largely owing to corporate insolvency of its major contractors.
The first unit of the 3×660-mw Nabinagar power plant turned commercial on September 6, 2019, followed by the second on July 23, 2021.
In a petition to Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), NTPC has said that three of its contractors – ERA Group (for civil works), DCIPS (for handling systems) and FAN A/s (for cooling towers) – are facing insolvency proceedings.
Besides, the pandemic-induced lockdown caused serious delays as there were restrictions on project mobilization.
NTPC said that National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has initiated insolvency proceedings against ERA Group and DCIPS. Prague-based FAN A/s was declared insolvent by the Municipal Court of Prague. NTPC is making every effort to complete the commissioning activities and the delay has been caused by factors beyond its control.
Also read: NHPC Takes Over Second Hydropower Project Through NCLT Route
Accordingly, CERC has granted an extension of one year, up to September 27, 2022, for injection of infirm power into the grid. The previous deadline was September 27, 2021, calculated as six months from the first grid synchronization, which took place on March 28, 2021.
Injection of infirm power into the grid is allowed for power plants, which are in commissioning stage, for carrying out commissioning tests including full load tests.
Home state Bihar is the biggest beneficiary of the Nabinagar power plant. It is reliably learnt that about 85 per cent of the plant’s generation has been allocated to the eastern state, followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 per cent), Jharkhand (4 per cent) and Sikkim (1 per cent).
