PM inaugurates unit-1 of Ghatampur thermal power project in Uttar Pradesh

The Prime Minister has inaugurated unit-1 (660 MW) of the 1,980 MW Ghatampur thermal power project located in Kanpur Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.

The project is being developed by Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Limited (NUPPL), a joint venture of NLC India Limited (51%) and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) (49%). The total estimated cost of the plant is Rs 217.81 billion.

The remaining two units of 660 MW each are scheduled for commissioning by 2025–26. Power purchase agreements have been signed for 1,487.28 MW with Uttar Pradesh and 492.72 MW with Assam, subject to equity transfer from UPRVUNL to the Assam government.

The project recently came under review by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). NUPPL had sought an amendment to its 2015 environmental clearance (EC) for the 3×660 MW project. The committee cited multiple non-compliance issues, including incomplete Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER) activities, insufficient greenbelt development, and deviation from approved fly ash management practices.

The EAC recommended returning the amendment proposal and advised NUPPL to clarify if an EC amendment is needed for switching from imported coal to domestic coal supplied by Coal India Limited (CIL).