The Standing Linkage Committee (Long-Term), SLC (LT), under the purview of the coal ministry, has proposed extending the bridge linkage for the 1,980-MW Ghatampur thermal power plant (TPP) in Uttar Pradesh. It is operated by Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power (NUPPL), a collaboration between Neyveli Lignite Corporation India (NLCIL) and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam (UPRVUNL). The plant is located near Kanpur.
In a recent meeting of the SLC (LT), it was decided to extend the bridge linkage for Ghatampur TPP for a year on a tapering basis. This decision follows NUPPL’s request for the allocation of 4.26 million tonnes (mnt) of G10 bridge linkage coal for the fiscal year 2024-25. NUPPL anticipates that the Pachhwara South coal block will commence production in FY’25, reaching its peak rated capacity by FY’28.
NUPPL informed the committee that all three units of the Ghatampur TPP, each with a capacity of 660 MW, are expected to be operational in FY’25. The projected coal production from the Pachhwara South coal block for FY’25 is 1.6 mnt. Based on this projection, NUPPL has requested the allocation of 4.26 mnt of G10 Bridge Linkage coal for the same fiscal year.
The Ministry of Power, NITI Aayog, and Coal India (CIL) have also recommended extending the bridge linkage for an additional year, ensuring the power plant’s fuel supply. Consequently, the SLC (LT) has recommended extending the bridge linkage for Ghatampur TPP for one year, with specifics regarding coal supply rates and sources to be determined by CIL.
It is worth noting that for FY’24, the SLC (LT) had already recommended a one-year extension of the bridge linkage for the Ghatampur TPP on a tapering basis. The current bridge linkage for coal is set to expire on 31 March, 2024.