NTPC signs MoU with Indian Railways for fly-ash transportation

19 Mar 2019 CW Team

India’s largest power utility NTPC has signed a MoU with Hazipur-based East Central Railway Zone for transportation of fly-ash under the Indian Railways’ Special Freight Train Operator (SFTO) scheme. NTPC thus became the first entity in the country to sign an SFTO agreement with Indian Railways. The fly-ash will be transported by Bogey Tank For Alumina Powder (BTAP) rakes, which are leakproof wagons with special air fluidising system.

KK Singh, Regional Executive Director, Northern Region, NTPC signed the MoU on behalf of NTPC. The pact with Indian Railways for fly-ash transportation will help enhance ash utilisation at Rihand and Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power plants and it will be further extended to other NTPC projects. S Narendra, Regional Executive Director, Eastern Region-I was present on the occasion.

Speaking on the development, PK Sinha, Executive Director (EMG, AM and Safety), NTPC, said, “At NTPC, sustainable ash utilisation is one of the key focus areas for us as part of our commitment to safeguard the environment. Ash is now also looked at as a commodity, which can translate into steady revenue stream for the company in the long run. The pact with Indian Railways is a major step in this direction since will enable us to transport fly-ash to various industries in the region. We decided to go with Indian Railways since it has the necessary capability to transport fly-ash in bulk in the region at a lower cost.”

As part of the agreement, NTPC has procured three BTAP rakes and each rake will have a capacity of 3,060 tonne ash. The first of the three rakes is expected to arrive by October 2019.

NTPC has always been a frontrunner in adherence to environmental norms and utilisation of the fly-ash has been a flagship initiative by the power generator. The signing of the MoU with Indian Railways is a definitive step towards further enhancing fly ash utilisation limit at NTPC plants. Further, it will ease sourcing of raw materials for downstream industries in the region.