In a strong penal action, the Madhya Pradesh Government has debarred Lanco Power and other Lanco Group firms from bagging contracts or business in the State for a period of five years. The state government has cited an “illegal act” on part of Lanco Amarkantak Power (now Lanco Power Ltd) to “abruptly terminate” a pact to sell 300 MW of power to it from a thermal station in Pathadi, Chhattisgarh and instead routing the electricity into the grid to cash in on rising short-term power prices.

Lanco Infratech has said that more than 5,000 MW of its planned and existing generation capacity would get a boost from Coal India's decision to sign fuel supply pacts for power projects.

"It is a positive step and Coal India agreeing to ink Fuel Supply Agreements (FSAs) will benefit Lanco's power generation capacity of over 5,000 MW. This includes both planned and existing capacities," Lanco Infratech CEO (Thermal) K Raja Gopal told

Every possible effort is being undertaken to make the State self-reliant in power generation. Giving top priority to feeder separation and completion of new thermal power projects, important targets have been fixed to complete works within time-limit. A target has been fixed to start power generation in two extension units of 250 MW of Satpura thermal power plant at Sarni in August and November this year. Besides, a proposal is also under consideration to replace five old 62.5 MW units of Sarni plant with a new unit of 660 MW.

Bhopal : Power demand is at its lowest presently. Consumers in entire state are being supplied power 24-hours. Due to rainy season, all the reservoirs of hydel power plants have reached their highest levels. Old thermal power plants of the state as well as five power plants of the Central Sector have been shut down for annual maintenance. Some thermal power plants have also been closed due to reduction in power demand. There is no need of any repairs in these plants.

The demand for power has come down in the state with the arrival of rainy season. At present, the power demand stands at five thousand megawatts. One unit each of Amarkantak and Satpura have been closed down for annual maintenance in view of reduction in power demand.

Thermal Power Houses of Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company had January 20 a special day for generating record power. Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company Limited's Amarkantak Thermal Power House Chachai, Satpura Thermal Power Centre Sarni and Sanjay Gandhi Power House Birsinghpur generated maximum power on January 20.

Due to coal shortage power production in thermal power projects of the MP Electricity Board has affected adversely. Several units have been closed because of shortage in coal supply. Electricity Board officials are trying their level best at the highest level to overcome the coal shortage. In spite of this supply of coal is being reduced.

Bhopal, Jan 21: The proposed 210 MW Amarkantak Power Station is likely to go into commercial production of electricity from May this year.

The 210 MW unit at the Amarkantak Thermal Power Station of the Madhya Pradesh Power Generating Company in Anuppur district was synchronised today. The power station aleady has two 30 MW units and two 120 MW units operating. The Union minister of State for Commerce and Power Jairam Ramesh and the minister of Power of MP Dr Gauri Shankar Shehwar were present on the occasion. Jairam Ramesh said that synchronisation on oil of the 210 MW unit was an important milestone. It would be another four months before the unit is scheduled to be in full commercial operation, he added.

The power generation capacity in the state has risen by 2937 megawatts during the last four years. With an extension unit of Amarkantak thermal power plant becoming critical soon, 210 MW more is going to be added to this capacity. Giving utmost importance to power, the state government has provided MP State Electricity Board and its companies Rs 939 crore as capital investment.