India’s National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has achieved successful power generation and transmission trials at full load for the 660 MW Unit 1 of the North Karanpura coal-fired power plant, located in Tandwa, in the Indian state of Jharkand. The electricity generated from this first trial was sent to India’s national grid. Regular production for the plant’s first unit is expected to begin in February 2023, after an expenditure estimated at INR150bn (US$1.8bn).

The North Karanpura plant, which is equipped with three units and has a total capacity of 1,980 MW, has finally been brought online after suffering many delays. The construction of the plant started in 1999, and its completion was initially expected in 2002 or 2003. However, disputes with the local population regarding compensation and rehabilitation delayed the project for over 20 years.

 

At the end of 2021, coal represented 56% of India’s installed capacity with 239 GW and 73% of its power generation with 1,194 TWh.