Cuddalore SRM power station

Cuddalore SRM power station is a proposed 1980 megawatts (MW) coal-fired power station in Chidambaram Taluka, Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu, India.

Location
The map below shows the location of Chidambaram taluk but not the exact location of the plant.

Construction contract
In December 2010 SRM Energy announced a Letter of Intent for an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract with China Datang Technologies & Engineering (CDTE), a subsidiary of China Datang Corporation (CDC) for the supply of three 600MW thermal power units at a value of USD$1.4 billion. The company states that the power plant "will be completed in 51 months with the first unit being commissioned in 39 months."

Finance
At the same time SRM Energy announced that it had signed a "Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CDTE and ICBC ... for financing the export buyer's credit to the Project backed by insurance from China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation."

Power purchase agreement
SRM Energy states that it signed a power purchase agreement with Tata Power Trading Company (TPTC) in December 2008 "to sell 65% on short and medium term and balance on long term through bidding process" but that this agreement has subsequently "been terminated". SRM states that a new agreement "is being negotiated with TPTCL for selling around 85% on long term and balance on short and medium term at competitive prices."

Coal supply
SRM Energy, which is proposing to build the power station, states that it has signed a long term coal supply contract with an unspecified Indonesian company for 5 million tonnes per annum "for a period of 20 years with an option to increase to 6 MMPTA at competitive prices. In addition to the above arrangement, the Company has signed a MoU for supply of 5 million tonnes of Coal from mines located at Malawi, Africa for a period of 25 years with an option to increase the same to 7.0 MMTPA." In its 2010-2011 annual report the company states that it "has signed an MOU for supply of 7 million tons of Coal from mines located at Mozambique and Malawi, Africa." The company does not state which companies the MOU's are with.

SRM also states on its website that it has "also applied to the Ministry of Coal for Coal linkage of 3.2 MMTPA and expect to receive the same once the 12th Five year plan linkages are taken up by the ministry for allocation. Further, as a long term goal, propose to enter into Joint Ventures with the overseas miners for long term supply with an option to buy out the miner at a later date, at both Indonesia and Africa."

In the executive summary of its Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Management Plan Report SRM Energy states that it was planning to use approximately 8 million tonnes per annum of coal with 70% from Indonesia and 30% from Mahanadhi Coalfields.

Port infrastructure
On its website SRM Energy states that it has signed a memorandum of understanding for coal port services "with upcoming port being developed by Cuddalore Port Company Pvt. Ltd., the port will consist of the Coal Berths which are planned to be located nearer to the Corridor being acquired by SRM for setting up Conveyors and laying water pipelines for Intake/Outlet of sea water. As a backup arrangement SRM has also signed a MoU with Karaikal Port, which is around 150 Kms for delivery of Coal at site."

Project Details
Sponsor: SRM Energy Location: in Chidambaram Taluka, Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu, India Coordinates: not available but approximately in the area of 11.548485, 79.703035 Status: Advanced development Nameplate capacity: 1980 megawatts Type: Supercritical. However the Executive Summary of company's 2010 Environmental Impact statement stated that it would be a subcritical plant. Projected in service:approx April 2015 Coal Type: Coal Source: unspecified locations variously described as from Indonesia, Malawi, Mozambique and the Indian company, Mahanadhi Coalfields Estimated annual CO2: Source of financing:ICBC

Related SourceWatch articles

 * India and coal
 * Malawi and coal
 * Mozambique and coal
 * Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
 * Proposed coal plants in India