Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Flags Concern Over Talcher Thermal Power Station Closure

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged Power and New & Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh to direct NTPC Ltd to address the concerns related to the closure of Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS) and take steps for early execution of the stage-III project.

The TTPS is one of the oldest thermal power stations set up by the Odisha government. Stage-I (240 MW) was commissioned in 1968 and stage-II (220 MW) in 1982. The NTPC acquired it in 1995.

“In 2010, NTPC proposed to expand the capacity of the station and install 2 units of 660 MW each. The state-designated agency, GRIDCO Ltd, promptly signed Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with NTPC in December 2010 for 660 MW. The expansion project also got the approval of the state government in February 2020. However, NTPC is yet to start the execution,” he said.

Naveen said that the closure of TTPS from December 31 will have a severe direct and indirect impact on thousands of families and the local economy and asked him to look into the matter.

“I assure you all support from the state government in this regard,” he added.