State-run Coal India (CIL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Haryana Power Purchase Centre (HPPC) for supplying 800 MW of electricity from Mahanadi Basin Power (MBPL), a subsidiary of Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL).

This collaboration is poised to bolster Haryana's efforts to meet its burgeoning energy needs, utilizing power generated under the framework of Section-62 of the Electricity Act, 2003, which mandates tariff determination by the appropriate commission.

This agreement, aimed at fulfilling Haryana's growing energy demand, follows the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs' approval for CIL's proposal to establish a 4000 MW Ultra-Supercritical Thermal Power Plant in Odisha's Sundargarh district, with the first phase comprising 2?800 MW capacity and an investment of ?15,947 crore.

The use of Ultra Super-Critical technology in these plants underscores CIL's commitment to minimizing environmental impact, boasting benefits such as reduced coal transit losses, lower carbon footprint, and enhanced plant load factors due to proximity to coal sources.

The MoU, signed in the presence of Haryana's Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, by Debasish Nanda, Director (Business Development) CIL and Randeep Singh, Chief Engineer, HPCC , underscores a strategic partnership aimed at securing a reliable electricity supply for Haryana.

This move is part of CIL's broader strategy to diversify its operations, including the development of coal-based pithead power plants, to maintain its leadership in the energy sector.