An expert panel of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved the expansion plans of Adani Power Ltd, NLC India, and GMR Power, granting clearances for a combined additional thermal power capacity of 2,470 megawatts (MW).

This approval comes as India accelerates efforts to add 90 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired power generation capacity over the next six years to meet its rising energy demand. The country’s peak power requirement is expected to reach 458 GW by 2032, with plans to raise total power generation capacity to 900 GW from the current 476 GW.

The environment ministry’s expert appraisal committee (EAC) on thermal plants recommended proceeding with the expansion of the 600 MW Lanco Amarkantak Power plant in Korba, Chhattisgarh, acquired by the Adani Group in September last year. Adani Power is set to augment this plant by an additional 1,320 MW (two units of 660 MW each).

Adani Power aims to expand its thermal capacity to 30.67 GW by FY32, adding 13.12 GW from the current 17.5 GW capacity.