Mutiara Thermal Power Plant

Mutiara Thermal Power Plant (previously referred to as the Melamaruthur Power Station) is a proposed 2800 megawatt (MW) coal fired thermal power plant in the district of Tuticorin in the State of Tamil Nadu, India.

Location
The map below shows the location of the project.

Background
The project, has been proposed by Coastal Energen, a subsidiary of the Coal &Oil Group which was established by Ahmed Buhari.

In early 2011, Coastal Energen, which is currently constructing a 1200MW plant at Melamaruthur village, proposed that the project be expanded by the addition of two 800MW units within or adjacent to the existing plant site.

Coal supply
Coastal Energen states that the total coal requirement for the 2800MW version of the plant would be 5.88 million tonnes of coal. The company has stated that coal for the plant would be unloaded at Tuticorin Port and is proposing that it be carried by rail to Melathattaparai Railway Junction and then via a new 18 kilometre rail extension to the plant site.

The executive summary of the EIA submitted by Coastal Energen to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board states that the 70% of coal for the tottal project would be from Coal India and sourced from Orissa and 30% imported from unspecified sources in Indonesia.

Power purchase agreement uncertainty
In January 2012 it was reported that the lack of a power purchase agreement with TANGEDCO for the 1200MW plant had unsettled at least one investor. The family of B. S. Abdur Rahman had decided to buy the 15% share of the company held by the Dubai-based investor, A. W. Rostamani group. It was also reported that Coastal Energen "has signed a PPA with Tata Power, but whether the company will be able to sell power to Tata Power is as yet uncertain. This is because Tamil Nadu, using its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003, does not allow a generator in the State to sell power to customers outside the State. Whether an “inter-State power producer” like Coastal Energen could be brought under the Section 11 is a subject awaiting the court's verdict."

Project Details
Sponsor: Coastal Energen Location: Melamaruthur village, Ottapidaram Taluk, Tuticorin District in Tamil Nadu Coordinates: approx 8.912716,78.144965 Status: Phase I (1200 MW) under construction; Phase II (1600 MW) proposed Nameplate capacity: 2,800 MW Type: 2 x 600 sub-critical, 2 x 800 super-critcal Projected in service: Phase I: June 2014 Coal Type: Coal Source: 70% local coal from Coal India mine in Orissa and 30% imported from unspecified sources in Indonesia Estimated annual CO2: 7,096,441 tons for the 1200MW project Source of financing: a consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India

Contact details
Coastal Energen Pvt. Ltd 7th Floor, Buhari Towers, 4, Moores Road, Chennai - 600 006. India Phone: +91 44 4296 4296 Fax: +91 44 4296 4297 Website: http://www.coastalenergen.com/

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