Meja Urja Nigam Private Limited (MUNPL), a 50:50 joint venture company between NTPC Limited and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited, has decided to expand its power generation capacity.
The MUNPL is gearing up to build 5,600 megawatt coal-fired power units in the coming years. Construction of new thermal units is targeted to be completed in the next five years. This initiative is in response to the escalating energy needs of Uttar Pradesh.
MUNPL currently operates a 1,320 MW thermal power project at Meja, in Prayagraj district. The utility aims to increase this with additional three units, totalling up to 2,400 MW, at the Meja.
The UP government has already awarded the contract to MUNPL for the construction of a new thermal unit of 1,600 MW at Obra and a new unit of 1,600 MW at Anpara E at the existing site of the thermal plant in Sonbhadra district. At Obra, five units of 50 MW each and three units of 100 MW each constructed over five decades will be demolished for the construction of new thermal units by the MUNPL. The new units at Meja, Obra and Anpara E add to 5,600 MW.
The post-COVID-19 pandemic era has witnessed a sharp upswing in power consumption in Uttar Pradesh, surpassing traditionally high-demand industrial states like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. In August and September, as the national peak power demand reached a historic 2.4 lakh MW, Uttar Pradesh emerged at the forefront with the demand burgeoning to over 29,000 MW. The Central Electricity Authority has projected the demand in September 2024 to over 32,000 MW in UP. The ambitious capacity expansion plan of MUNPL highlights the revival of coal-based power.
Official sources here said that the planned capacity of 5,600 MW symbolised the state government’s faith in MUNPL’s capabilities and the growing demand for cost-effective power. He emphasised that this would position MUNPL as the flagship joint venture of NTPC Limited.
The rising power demand is attributed to increased power connections and commercial growth. UP Power Corporation Limited has given 1.60 crore new power connections in rural and urban areas in the last six years.
These plans by MUNPL and the UP state government reflect the growing dependence on coal-fired electricity. As renewable energy growth lags behind electricity demand, countries are turning to coal to meet future needs. MUNPL’s coal is supplied by three subsidiaries of Coal India Limited which ensures that UP gets power at reasonable prices.
MUNPL has streamlined its project construction process. Instead of juggling 40 different contracts, the company is now awarding a combined engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) tender, attracting the attention of international firms.
The thermal EPC sector, previously dominated by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), has welcomed international companies such as General Electric Company (GE), Toshiba and Hitachi. This change is due to growing electricity needs and increased reliance on coal-based energy. MUNPL has also introduced cutting-edge technologies such as supercritical power units and flue gas desulfurisation (FGD). These technologies not only improve operational efficiency but also control emissions. Compared to subcritical units, which have around 35 per cent efficiency, supercritical units boast over 40 per cent efficiency.
Supercritical units are more fuel and water efficient, produce more electricity and have reduced emissions compared to their subcritical counterparts. The FGD technology, retrofitted to older units or built into new ones, removes sulphur from the thermal unit’s emissions.
MUNPL supplies electricity primarily to Uttar Pradesh, with the remaining supplies going to states like Uttarakhand, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
