TNPGCL to take up development of 660 MW Ennore Thermal Power Station expansion project under PPP mode

Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation Ltd (TNPGCL) is set to take up the development of the stranded 660 MW Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) expansion project under public private partnership mode.

Detailed Feasibility Report has been received. Processing of bid documents is in progress, and further action will be taken accordingly, as per the information shared by TNPGCL at a recent meeting of Southern Regional Power Committee.

As per the State Energy Department’s policy note for 2025-26, ETPS Expansion Thermal Power Project has faced significant challenges over the years.

Two engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) contractors (Lanco Infra Tech Ltd. and BGR Energy Systems Ltd.) were terminated due to slow progress and poor performance, it said.

Recently, the Standing Linkage Committee (Long-Term) for Power Sector, under the Union Ministry of Coal, had recommended earmarking of coal linkage for the project under the Centre’s revised coal allocation policy- ‘Shakti Policy 2025’.

TNPGCL had requested to earmark long-term coal linkage as per the revised Shakti Policy 2025 under the provision which allows conduct of tariff-based competitive bidding to develop and procure 660 MW from the stranded ETPS expansion project.

The state power utility has also surrendered the coal linkage allocated earlier to the project under the erstwhile Shakti Policy and the surrender has been accepted by Coal India. 

The 660 MW ETPS expansion plant is a non-pithead plant (thermal power plants are situated at a distance from coal mines) and is a brownfield expansion project and is  100 per cent domestic coal-based power plant, TNPGCL told the standing committee.