NTPC and Chhattisgarh are going geothermal in a big move for India

Chhattisgarh government has decided to establish the first Geothermal Power Plant of the country in the newly formed Balrampur district of the state.

A memorandum of understanding in this connection was signed on Sunday between National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency (CREDA).

“State government has granted permission for the installation of a Geothermal Power Plant at Tattapani area of the Balrampur district to the NTPC. It will be first Geothermal Power Plant of the country,” a government official said.

Geothermal generation refers to harnessing of the geothermal energy or the vast reservoir of heat stored in the earth’s inner core.

“The MoU was signed by CREDA director Shailendra Shukla and NTPC’s executive director Ajit Kumar in the presence of secretary-energy Aman Singh, regional executive director-NTPC S N Ganguly and MDs of electricity companies of Chhattisgarh,” the official said.

NTPC has already started exploratory and preparatory work in this area. It has also started talks with ONGC and other international organisations for drilling operation.

It expects to start the project activities within the next 24 months after finalisation of Detailed Project Report (DPR), the official said.

In India, studies for locating this renewable energy source were undertaken by the Geological Survey of India over the last three decades after which around 340 hot springs were traced, a government release here said. The Tattapani geothermal field is the most promising geothermal resource in central India, the release said. Work for assessment of geothermal resource at Tattapani, Surguja division was carried out over the last three decades.

The proposed project would be developed under the partnership format, wherein CREDA would act as a facilitator while the responsibility of designing, constructing, financing, operating, maintaining and running of the project will be overlooked by the NTPC, the official said.

Under facilitation role, CREDA will provide all required support and assistance to the developer in procuring applicable permits required from any government instrument for implementation and operation of the project.

NTPC will be responsible for funding the entire development of Geothermal Power Plant. CREDA will give right of way on about 15 acres of land area for the development of Geothermal Power Plant on 30-year concession period. It will give first right to purchase the power to Chhattisgarh state DISCOM, the official added