NTPC has already taken initiative to add 650 mw capacity each at its Kawas and Jhanor-Gandhar gas-based projects. The existing capacity of Kawas power station is 656.21 mw while it is 657.39 mw for the Jhanor-Gandhar station.

NTPC sources said the feasibility report for Kawas expansion (State-II) has been submitted to Central Electric Authority (CEA). Ministry of environment and forest and Gujarat State Pollution Control Board have accorded in principle clearance. Efforts were on to get similar clearance for the expansion of Jhanor-Gandhar Project. With the commissioning of all the gas turbines on natural gasoline liquid and naphtha firing system at Kawas, the power generation level of the plant has considerably increased. The Kawas power station has recorded higher ever generation of 4,131.29 million units atplant load factor (PLF) of 71.8 per cent in 1997-98 since inception.

Gandhar power station has also exceeded the memorandum of understanding target by 14.85 per cent. During the same year, the Gandhar units have achieved machine availability of 89.5 per cent as against the target of 87.4 per cent.

NTPC has also taken up the expansion of Vindhyachal project by capacity addition of 1,000 mw (2x500 mw). This will provide additional power to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The major milestone of boiler hydraulic test for the first 500 mw unit has already been achieved much before schedule while the next milestone -- boiler light -- up was also expected ahead of schedule. Vindhyachal (1,260 mw) has achieved highest ever loading factor of 95.26 per cent and the power station has also improved its heat rate and reduced consumption of auxiliary power and specific oil.

NTPC sources said it was also exploring the possibilities of further expansion of Vindhyachal project for adding two units of 500 mwunder state III.

It has also planned a super thermal power project with a capacity of 3,000 mw in two phases to be developed in Sipat and Bilaspur in Madhya Pradesh. The centre and Madhya Pradesh government have accorded in principle clearances while the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board has also committed in principle for making available the consumptive water for the project.

The feasibility report for 4x500 mw with a provision for expansion by another 2x500 mw has already been submitted to CEA. Site investigations including topographical survey, geotechnical investigations and environment impact assessment have been completed.

NTPC sources said the power stations in the western region have generated 31,213.5 million units of electricity during 1997-98 registering an increase of 4.67 per cent over the previous year's generation of 29,756 million units. As a result of the increased level of efficiency, NTPC has contributed over 25 per cent of the total power generation in the western region grid.Western region has also surpassed the memorandum of understanding target by 9.75 per cent during the same year. The total realisation of energy bills in western region was Rs 3,530.67 crore, which was about 97.61 per cent of total billing of Rs 3,617.3 crore during 1997-98. "The outstanding of Rs 839.10 crore (including surcharge of Rs 412.06 crore) as on March 31, 1998 remains a major concern," the sources added.