Patna: The stage-I unit of NTPC's Barh super thermal power station (BSTPS) will start production from 2020.
The stage-I unit will generate 1,980MW of electricity and it will help tide over the power crisis in the state. At present, the stage-II unit of Barh NTPC is generating 1,320MW of electricity.
M.P. Sinha, the regional executive director (east-I) of the NTPC, said: "The stage-I of the NTPC will start power generation from April 2020. Around 1,980MW will be generated from the unit and it will help tide over power crisis in the state."
Sinha said under stage-I, three units of 660MW each will start operation.
The stage-I unit commissioning of the NTPC will not help the state in meeting its power requirement, but Bihar is likely to be a surplus state in terms of power availability. Out of 1,980MW of power generation, the state will get 1,035MW.
Sinha said: "There were some delays in the construction of BSTPS stage-I, but all such issues have been dealt with. We have targeted to commission unit-I."
The foundation stone of stage-I of BSTPS was laid in 1999 and it was initially proposed that the stage-I unit will start production from 2010, which was later extended to 2013.
NTPC officials said the delay in starting the stage-I unit production was mainly because of contractual disputes between the NTPC and the initial contractor Russian firm Technopromexport. The Russian firm was to construct the boiler but despite giving extension, the firm failed to complete the work within the stipulated time.
In 2015 the NTPC terminated the contract to TPE. Korean company Doosan Power Systems and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd were given the fresh contract.
Sinha said: "The stage-I unit construction work is on and it will be completed on time." BHEL has constructed the stage-II unit boiler.
The NTPC official said in the 2017-18 fiscal there has been record power production at Barh and Kahalgaon power plants.
Till March 26, both Barh and Kahalgaon have made 38,438 million units of electricity, which is 4.57 per cent more than the previous fiscal.
