Author: PPD Team Date: 08/04/2025
The Government of Odisha has approved a 2,400 MW coal-based ultra super critical thermal power project in Cuttack district. The project will be developed by Orissa Thermal Energy Limited (OTEL), a subsidiary of Adani Power Limited (APL).
The Nilanchal Thermal Power Plant will be built in three phases of 800 MW each at Rahangol and Kandarei villages in Athagarh tehsil. The estimated cost is Rs 184.5 billion.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted Terms of Reference (ToR) on 18 February 2025. This allows OTEL to begin environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental management plan (EMP) studies under the EIA Notification, 2006.
The project site was earlier granted environmental clearance (EC) in 2009 for a 4×350 MW plant under KVK Nilanchal Power Private Limited. The EC was later amended in 2010 to 3×350 MW. Partial construction was started, but the EC expired in February 2019 after the project stalled.
KVK Nilanchal was later acquired through insolvency proceedings by Padmaprabhu Commodity Trading Private Limited (PCTPL), which won the bid in an e-auction in August 2022. The company was later renamed Orissa Thermal Energy Limited (OTEL) in 2024.
OTEL is now starting the process afresh to get a new environmental clearance for the upgraded 3×800 MW project.