http://www.financialexpress.com/news/coalrejects-can-generate-7-000-mw-p
ower-by-2016/187901/#

 

Coal-rejects can generate 7,000 mw power by 2016

Posted online: Dec 27, 2006 at 0000 hrs

Mumbai, Dec 26The power ministry, state governments, coal companies and
washeries are planning to use coal-rejects as an option to generate more
electricity. 

The ministry and states across India have estimated that with an
investment of Rs 29,500 crore over the next 10 years, coal-rejects could
be used to generate 5,000 mw-7,000 mw of electricity. 

Coal-reject projects, they have studied, could be developed with the
generation capacity of each ranging between 50 mw and 150 mw. 

As a beginning, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh
have already started exploring the possibility of setting up such
projects either with the involvement of state electricity boards,
unbundled entities or coal washeries. 

In Maharashtra, Gupta Coal, a washery with a washing capacity of 23
million tonne of coal annually, is already setting up a 120-mw power
project based on coal rejects in the coal-rich Chandrapur district of
the Vidarbha region. This project calls for an investment of around Rs
504 crore. Another coal washery — Aryan — has also launched plans to
set up a power plant of 30 mw based on coal rejects in Chhattisgah. 

Power ministry sources told FE, “Of the 370 million tonne of coal used
by power plants annually by the power sector, a 15-20 million tonne are
washed coal. 

All power-generating companies have been asked to go in for washed coal
so as to reduce ash content and thereby increase generation. Power can
be generated from coal rejects, which also have some useful heat value. 

Power can be generated through circulating fluidised bed boilers and it
can be environment-friendly. 

The ministry is in favour of encouraging such projects. However, there
should be necessary support from coal companies, state governments and
regulators.” 

Gupta said his company would use 50% coal rejects and 50% raw coal to
generate 120 mw of power. “The company has already enganged Thermax
for EPC and boiler purpose, while it is in talks for buying a turbine
from a Chinese supplier.The coal ministry has already allotted one coal
block in Wani, Yavatmal district. The project will be up and running in
the next 24 to 36 months. We are negotiating with MahaGenco and PTC
India for use of power.” 

He added that Gupta Coal would add a coal-washing capacity of 20 million
tonne in the next six months.

