Neyveli Lignite Corporation’s lignite mining and power generation have hit a high in 2016-17 surpassing a record high in 2013-14, according to a press release from the public sector company.

NLC produced 276.21 lakh tonnes of lignite, a growth of 8 per cent; total power generation was up 14 per cent at 22,340 million units; and total export of power was 17,718 million units. In 2013-14 the year of previous highs, lignite production was 266.09 lakh tonnes; power generation 19,988 million units; and power exports 16,956 million units.

NLC has started constructing a 130 MW solar plant at Neyveli which will add to its present 10 MW facility. It is planning about 500 MW of solar power projects in various parts of Tamil Nadu.

In Odisha it will establish 250 MW solar power facilities for which it will sign PPA with the State government.

By 2019 it will have about 4,000 MW of solar power generating capacity and about 251 MW of wind power.

Taking into account its projects in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand, NLC expects its lignite mining to double to 62 million tonnes a year by 2025; and coal production at 31 million tonnes; and a total power generation capacity of 20,971 MW including 4,000 MW of solar and 251 MW of wind power against its current total generation capacity of 4,295 MW.

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