The Hindu Business Line : KPCL signs pact with 6 washeries for coal supply

THE state-owned utility, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL), has entered into an arrangement with six coal washery companies for supply of washed coal.

A KPCL release said here, these companies, Aryan Energy Ltd, Kolkata, Global Coal and Mining Ltd, New Delhi, Gupta Coalfields and Washeries Ltd, Nagpur, Aryan Coal Beneficiations, New Delhi and AP Coal Washeries Ltd, New Delhi, would together be supplying three million tonnes of coal for the Raichur Thermal Power Stations (RTPS).

The supply of washed coal is to begin from next year. Coal washing leads to a reduction in ash content and consequently reduces particulate matter in emission. Emission is a major problem in coal generating States especially since the quality of thermal coal available in the country is of inferior quality and has a high ash content. The use of washed coal is also expected to improve the performance of the plants, by reducing the periodicity of the maintenance shutdowns. Simultaneously, washed coal will also allow the boilers in thermal stations to be operated at the designed values.

The release added that the agreements would allow for usage for washed coal for all the seven units of the Raichur thermal station.

Only six units of a total capacity of 1,260 MW are operational currently. Unit 7 of RTPS is to become operational early next year once trial runs are completed. The project has already completed synchronisation.

Besides, indications are that Unit 8, for which a detailed project report is under preparation, is also expected to be utilising washed coal.

Similarly, KPCL' s 500 MW Bellary Thermal station is also expected to be using washed coal. Coal linkage for the project has already been finalised from Talcher in Orissa.

The transportation is by rail up to Paradip, then by coastal shipping route up to Visakhapatnam and then again by rail up to Vijaynagar.

The coal requirement is expected to be in the region of about 2.8 million tonnes per annum assuming calorific value of 3,000 kilo cals per kg and a plant load factor of 80 per cent.

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