BALCO Korba power station

BALCO Korba power station is a 1200 megawatt (MW) coal plant under construction in Chhattisgarh state, India.

Location
The project is located several hundred meters north of the Balco's existing 540 MW coal plant, in Korba city, Korba district, Chhattisgarh state, India. The satellite photo shows construction activity.

Background
The plant is a captive power station that will provided electricity to a new 325,000 tonne per annum aluminum smelter within the existing Korba Aluminium Complex.

Prior to 2012, the Central Electricity Authority reported regularly in its "Broad Status Reports" that four units of 300 MW each were under construction. BALCO continues to report that four units are under construction, but the company does not provide details other than a photograph showing three partially completed units. Currently, the Central Electricity Authority reports that Units 1 and 2 are projected to be commissioned in 2013-2014. The CEA no longer provides information on Units 3 and 4. It is not clear whether the absence of further information on Units 3 and 4 is related to the 2009 construction accident that claimed at least 45 lives.

Chimney collapse: 2009
For more details, see 2009 Korba chimney collapse

A major accident occurred on the construction site on 23 September 2009. The project was under construction by Gannon Dunkerley & Company Limited (GDCL) for Shandong Electric Power Construction Corporation (Sepco), who themselves were under contract for the Bharat Aluminium Co Ltd (BALCO). Construction had reached 240 meters when the chimney collapsed on top of more than 100 workers who had been taking shelter from a thunderstorm. At least 45 deaths were recorded.

Project Details
Sponsor: Bharat Aluminum Company Location: Korba city, Korba district, Chhattisgarh state, India Coordinates: 22.3989968, 82.740011 (exact) Status: Under construction; Units 1 and 2 slated for completion in 2013-2014 Nameplate capacity: 1200 MW (4 x 300 MW) Type: Projected in service: Units 1 and 2: 2013-2014; Units 3 and 4: Unknown Coal Source: Estimated annual CO2: 7,096,441 tonsd Source of financing:

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