NTPC insists Odisha honours Talcher PPA, says won't scrap agreement

NTPC, the country's largest power utility, has ruled out the possibility of scrapping power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with the Odisha government for its Stage-III Talcher Thermal Power Station (TTPS).

The agreement was executed with the state government in 2010 when Odisha face a power deficit, especially during peak demand. As per the terms of the PPA, the state government was to draw 50 per cent of the 1,320 Mw power to be generated by the station in its next phase ramp up.

But Odisha is now looking at 1,500-1,600 Mw excess thermal power from 2019-20, counting its 800 Mw allocation from NTPC's upcoming 1,600 Mw fresh capacity at Darlipalli (near Sundargarh) and 660 Mw to be generated by its own utility, Odisha Power Generation Corporation Ltd (OPGC). In view of this glut, the state government was not keen to commit to more power procurement.