The Ministry of Coal’s Standing Linkage Committee (Long-Term) recommended long-term coal linkage for Torrent Power’s proposed 800 megawatt (MW) replacement power plant in Gujarat, treating it as a special brownfield project under the revised SHAKTI Policy. The committee accepted the Ministry of Power’s view that the Sabarmati Thermal Power Plant’s relocation, prompted by the Gujarat government’s decision to repurpose its ash pond for an international sports facility, warranted special consideration. It recommended earmarking linkage for 724 MW to the state for utilisation by the proposed plant.

The power ministry argued the relocation was driven by public infrastructure need rather than a commercial decision and cited Paragraph 5.2 of the Tariff Policy, 2016. That provision permits a private producer a one-time expansion of up to 100 per cent of existing generating capacity with tariff set by the regulator rather than through fresh competitive bidding. The ministry contended that combining the existing 362 MW and an equivalent expansion to reach 724 MW should qualify for linkage despite the new site.

Coal India has been asked to identify coal source, supply quantity, likely dispatch mode and representative coal quality. The committee also approved long-term linkage for Madhya Pradesh’s proposed 660 MW ultra-supercritical unit at Satpura Thermal Power Station, a brownfield replacement for four ageing units. Rajasthan received a one-year extension to utilise linkage already earmarked for 3,299 MW after delays in the state’s tariff-based competitive bidding.

The panel extended bridge coal linkages by one year for the three 800 MW units of the Patratu project and for four thermal stations run by Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd as delays in operationalising captive coal blocks continue to require interim supplies from Coal India. The decisions underscore the committee’s focus on maintaining fuel availability while regulatory and project execution issues are addressed and on coordination between central and state authorities to safeguard power sector stability.