Tata’s Trombay thermal plant received approval for fuel conversion from the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), attached to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

Now Tata Power can convert Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (LSFO) based Unit 6 (500 MW) to Coal fired plant, but on 15 conditions of committee.

EAC nodded a good to go signal for fuel conversion on November 18, subject to 15 conditions. The project proposal was for an investment of INR 11.7 billion. Some major conditions which Committee considered are:

• To carry out a long-term study for radioactivity and heavy metal in Coal and fly ash through the Central Power Research Institute, Bangalore, Mangalore University and the Atomic Minerals Directorate, for Exploration and Research, Hyderabad.
• The company have to install a flue-gas desulfurisation plant
• To provide a stack of 275 meter heigh
• Continuous online monitoring equipment to be installed
• Harness solar power within the plant premises

In addition, Tata Power will have to allocate a one-time investment of INR 50 million for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities during the construction phase. Recurring expenditures for CSR thereafter will be about INR 10 million annually till the life of the plant. The company will have to conduct a social audit by a reputed university or an institute and this is to be given to the MoEF.

Company’s spokes person told to media, “Tata Power will await Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) clearance for Trombay Unit 6 proposed modernization plan and thereafter next level decision will be taken. The importance of modernization needs to be viewed from the point of view of larger interest of ensuring reliable and affordable supply of electricity to the consumer. We would like to reiterate that Tata Power continues to remain committed to serving the citizens of Mumbai.”

Tata power’s unit 6 will consume imported Coal of 5,000 Kcal/kg GCV with 4.5% Ash and 0.28% Sulphur. As per the company, they will require around 2 MnT of Coal. Pet Coke cannot be fired in same unit.

Earlier Committee also discussed the power generation in Mumbai and the embedded power to Mumbai to cater the increasing power demand of Mumbai. It was observed that 2,377 MW is embedded generation for Mumbai and the present peak demand is about 3,391 MW. It was observed that owing to transmission bottle necks in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the necessity of power generation in Mumbai itself is a necessity to cater the growing demand of Mumbai power consumption.

On the possibility of gas based power generation it was noted that as on date about 8,500 MW Gas Based Power Projects are stranded due to unavailability of gas. That, since 2008 M/s Tata Power has been perusing with the Ministry of Power for gas allocation for Trombay Power Station. It was also noted that the Ministry of Power vide its letter dated March 14, 2012 has advised developers against planning power projects based on domestic gas till 2015-2016 as Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has indicated that no additional domestic gas is available till 2015-2016.