EAC clears ToR for Adani Power’s 1,600 MW Raipur expansion
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for the Thermal Power Sector under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the expansion of Adani Power Limited’s Raipur Thermal Power Plant in Chhattisgarh. The approval, granted during the committee’s 42nd meeting held on April 30, 2026, allows the company to proceed with a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the proposed expansion.
The proposal involves increasing the plant’s capacity from 2,970 MW to 4,570 MW by adding two 800 MW ultra-supercritical units under Phase III. The existing project includes a 1,370 MW Phase I, which is operational, and a 1,600 MW Phase II currently under construction.
The thermal power project is located across Raikheda, Gaitara, and Chicholi villages in Raipur district, Chhattisgarh. The Rs 15,740 crore expansion will require an additional 220.69 hectares of private land, taking the total project area to 578.84 hectares. Coal for the expansion is proposed to be sourced from nearby commercial mines, while water requirements will be met from the Kodar reservoir.
According to the EAC, no national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, or eco-sensitive zones are located within the 10-km study area surrounding the project site.
As part of the ToR conditions, the committee directed the company to undertake a cumulative environmental impact assessment covering all three project phases. The EAC also asked the developer to raise solar power capacity at the site to 2 MW and carry out a detailed risk assessment study.
The committee further instructed the company to examine the possibility of using treated sewage water from Raipur city, located around 40 km from the project site, and evaluate the feasibility of deploying air-cooled condensers to reduce freshwater consumption.
Additional requirements include a biodiversity assessment, hydrological and watershed management studies, and an analysis of the project’s impact on the nearby Mahanadi River. The ToR also prescribes stringent air pollution control measures, including installation of Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems and 275-metre-high chimneys for sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission management.
The company has also been directed to submit a plan for 100% fly ash utilisation, develop a 198-hectare green belt, and prepare a disaster management framework as part of the environmental studies.
The ToR approval marks an initial regulatory milestone for the expansion project. Final environmental clearance will depend on the outcome of the EIA study and compliance with all conditions prescribed by the EAC.
The featured photograph is for representation only.
