Public sector hydro power generator NHPC has now acquired all legal rights to foray into thermal power generation.
Though a decision to foray into thermal power generation was taken a few years, the approval from the Power Ministry came just recently, Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC, Mr A. B. L. Srivastava, told Business Line . This was because the company was required to make changes in its main objects for doing business.
Earlier, the company could set up these (thermal) projects only through its subsidiary, NHDC Ltd. NHDC is 51:49 subsidiary between NHPC and Madhya Pradesh Government. But, now with this approval it can go ahead on its own.
Mr Srivastava added the company is now doing its ‘home-work' to foray into thermal power generation. “There are potential in several states and we are discussing with them,” Mr Srivastava said. When asked if NHPC would be look into coal-fired or gas units and how much capacity addition it would target, Mr Srivastava said it is ‘too early' to comment on specifications as the company has just started looking into this business.
NHPC targets to generate 20,550 million units of hydro-generated power in 2012-13, against 18,500 million units in the previous year. At the same time, it is aiming to achieve gross sales of Rs 4,747 crore in the current financial year against Rs 3,931.89 crore in 2011-12.