Shillong, Aug 10: The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) has officially conveyed its decision to withdraw from the implementation of a proposed 500 megawatt thermal power project in Meghalaya, citing their strategic shift towards cleaner and sustainable energy solutions.
According to Power Minister AT Mondal, NEEPCO communicated its intention to terminate the thermal power project, highlighting a shift in focus towards exclusively green and clean energy endeavours. Mondal further elucidated that the decision was reached during discussions with the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NEEPCO, who also holds the CMD position at NTPC in New Delhi.
The minister underscored that a primary challenge with thermal power projects lies in securing a dependable coal linkage. He emphasized that without a guaranteed supply of coal, significant investments could result in futility. Furthermore, the allure of benefits provided by hydel power projects, such as 3% free power allocation and 1% power allocation for local area development, is absent in the context of thermal power initiatives.
Mondal acknowledged the need to evaluate proposals for power projects, but highlighted a substantial hurdle: the expectation of private parties that the government will procure 100% of the generated power. This requirement poses a significant obstacle to the feasibility of these projects.
In parallel, the minister divulged discussions with NTPC regarding power generation from waste materials. However, he revealed that the quantity of waste generated isn’t sufficient to render the project economically viable.
Meanwhile, the government is diligently addressing the power deficit issue through both short-term and long-term strategies. Mondal shared that efforts are underway to minimize losses and infuse alternative energy into the grid, while simultaneously working on the development of new power projects. As a testament to this commitment, he announced the launch of the Chief Minister’s Solar Mission, scheduled for August 11, 2023.
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