Coal Linkage Recommended for Reviving Ennore Thermal Power Station Expansion

07 Aug 2025 CW Team

The proposal, submitted by Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation (TNPGCL), aims to develop the long-stalled ETPS expansion project through a tariff-based competitive bidding process under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The project is a 100 per cent domestic coal-based, non-pithead, brownfield plant, located away from coal mining areas.

As per the meeting minutes of the Standing Linkage Committee, TNPGCL had previously surrendered its earlier coal allocation under the old Shakti Policy, which was accepted by Coal India. Now, under the revised policy, fresh coal linkage has been recommended to facilitate the project’s development.

The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has supported the move, aligning it with Tamil Nadu’s Resource Adequacy Plan, which anticipates a need for an additional 7,000 MW of thermal capacity by FY 2034–35. The state already has contracts in place for 6,486 MW till FY 2029–30.

The Ministry of Power, along with NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Railways, and NTPC, have also supported the coal linkage recommendation, subject to compliance with the revised policy norms. Coal India will now identify the coal source and share details such as quantity, quality, and mode of dispatch with TNPGCL.

The Standing Linkage Committee has stipulated that the successful bidder for the project must be finalised within one year from the date of coal linkage allocation, failing which the allotment may lapse.

According to the Tamil Nadu State Energy Department’s 2025–26 policy note, the ETPS expansion project has faced multiple delays over the years, with previous EPC contractors Lanco Infratech and BGR Energy Systems being terminated due to poor performance.

In a step forward, a purchase order was issued to SBI CAPS in September 2024 to provide transaction advisory services. A pre-draft Detailed Feasibility Report (DFR) for the 660 MW project is currently under review.

News source: The Hindu

Infrastructure Urban

27 Sep 2025

Mumbai is on the verge of complete transformation

Pratap Padode: Maharashtra’s infrastructure plan seems to be rolling out project after project: the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Coastal Road, Shaktipeeth Expressway, Worli-Sewri Connector and Vadhavan Port. What is driving this momentum?Ashwini Bhide: Maharashtra has always been at the forefront of infrastructure development. Our vision is to be a $ 1 trillion economy by 2030 and $ 5 trillion by 2047. To achieve this, massive investments in infrastructure are essential. Being over 50 per cent urbanised, our cities must be future-ready. We are also addressing regional disparities, focu..

Forging a Balance

The ongoing boom in real estate and infrastructure was bound to spill over to the steel sector. Rating agency ICRA estimated demand for domestic steel to have grown at 10 per cent in FY25, but to moderate to 7-8 per cent in FY26 on the back of a slowdown in public capital expenditure.Homemade steelAbout two-thirds of India’s domestically produced steel is consumed by infrastructure and construction, and nearly a third for government projects, observes Shalabh Chaturvedi, Managing Director, CASE Construction Equipment, India & SAARC region. Real estate predominantly uses only domestic steel..

Equipment India Awards 2025

On September 4, 2025, at the Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai, Anand Sundaresan, Director on the Board and Advisor to the Chairman at Ammann India, received the Equipment India Lifetime Achievement Award 2025, as the hall rose and gave him a standing ovation. For an industry that has seen him steer organisations, inspire teams and raise standards, this moment was more than recognition – it was gratitude.Sundaresan’s acceptance struck a chord with warmth and humility: “I accept it with pride and dedicate it to my family, colleagues and the entire construction industry. This aw..