State power generation utility acquires Sinnar plant for stable supply in Nashik region

Nashik: Mahagenco and Nashik Thermal Power Corporation jointly completed the acquisition process of Sinnar Thermal Power Limited, at Sinnar in Nashik district, after making the payments, clearing the path for the revival of the 1,350 MW coal-based thermal power project.The consortium successfully bid for control of the project through the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and submitted its plan for the revival of the facility to meet the growing power demand of the region at a time when the existing power generation facility has not only grown old but it has already crossed its life expectancy."This acquisition has been carried out through a 50:50 joint venture between the Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited and NTPC Limited. Now the target is to operationalise the first two units of 270MW capacity each, within about eight months. The remaining three units are planned to be commissioned over the next three years. This will add reliable base-load capacity to Maharashtra's power system," said Atul Sonje, the chief executive officer of the Sinnar Thermal Power Limited (STPL).With the acquisition, Mahagenco's thermal power generation capacity will increase from 10,200MW to 11,550MW. As a result, including thermal, gas, solar, and hydroelectric projects, Mahagenco's total installed capacity will cross 15GW, further strengthening Maharashtra's energy security.The revival of STPL will create direct and indirect employment for the engineers, technical staff, skilled and unskilled workers, contractors, and ancillary service providers, collectively boosting the growth of complementary and related industries in the Nashik region and contributing to regional socio-economic development."The most important benefit of the STPL functioning is that the region — which now has three 210MW generation units at the Nashik Thermal Power Station (installed in 1970s) after two others with 140MW capacity shut — will have good, efficient and cleaner power back-up arrangments well before Simhastha Kumbh Mela," he added.