Vizag Thermal Power Plant

Vizag Thermal Power Plant is a coal plant under construction in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is also known as the Hinduja Power Plant.

Location
The photo below shows the construction site.

Background
Vizag Thermal Power Plant is a 1040 megawatt (MW) coal-fired power station under construction in Andhra Pradesh, India; it comprises two units, each of 520 MW. The plant has been the locus of controversy including large protests in 2011. In November 2011, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) decided to defer the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) approvals to the project following alleged violations by the company.

In September 2012, the Central Electricity Authority reported that unit 1 would be commissioned in September 2013 and unit 2 would be commissioned in December 2013.

Protests
In December 2011, members of 32 villages affected by the Hinduja Power Plant blockaded the main entrance to the plant. The protesters demanded employment for local workers as well as compensation for the 623 acres acquired for the project. After assurances by governmental and company officials that a meeting would be convened in 15 days to resolved the issues, the protest dispersed.

Project Details
Sponsor: Hinduja National Power Corporation (HNPC) Location: Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India Coordinates: 17.5636425, 83.1388772 (exact) Status: Construction Nameplate capacity: 1040 MW (2 x 520 MW) Type: Projected in service: Unit 1: April 2014; Unit 2: July 2014 Coal Type: Coal Source: Estimated annual CO2: Source of financing: Achieved on 29th June’10 with a consortium of 14 Banks led by SBI (75:25 :: Debt: Equity)

Related SourceWatch articles

 * India and coal
 * Proposed coal plants in India
 * Opposition to coal in India