4,380 MW of coal power projects did not materialise in TN from 2017 to 2022

The T.N. State power sector did not add any capacity during this period; at least four planned projects have not come up due to various factors such as slow progress of work, legal issues and the pandemic, as per data from the Union Ministry of Power

A total of 4,380 MW of coal-based power projects envisaged by the State sector in Tamil Nadu between 2017 and 2022 have not materialised. This is as per the data provided in the Draft Electricity Plan published by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under the Union Ministry of Power.

The Tamil Nadu State sector did not add any capacity during these five years, as per the data. The 4,380 MW coal projects accounted for nearly 50% of the total 8,990 MW capacity, planned by the government sector, which did not materialise across the country.  

As per the draft plan, overall, out of the scheduled capacity addition of 51,561.15 MW ,including nuclear power during this period, a capacity of 21,620 MW (41.93% of the target) has slipped. The miss was on account of various reasons including a delay in the placement of the order for the main plant, slow progress of civil work, poor geology, legal issues and the COVID-19 pandemic among others.

In Tamil Nadu, the coal projects planned by the State including the 800 MW North Chennai Thermal Power Project Stage III, the Ennore SEZ Thermal Project (2x660 MW), the Uppur Supercritical Thermal project (2X800 MW) and the Ennore Thermal Power Station Expansion Power Project (660 MW) did not happen.

The draft plan said the North Chennai Thermal project of 800 MW and the Ennore SEZ Thermal Power project of 2x660 MW are likely to come up and be operational in the 2022-23 to 2026-27 period. 

Tangedco (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) officials have pointed out that the trial run of the North Chennai project would be done in January and the plant will likely come up in March. It was originally planned to be completed by July 2019.

The draft plan also said the 1,320 MW project in Udangudi is likely to come up during the 2022-23 to 2026-27 period.