PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone for NTPC’s 800 MW Sipat-III in Chhattisgarh

Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today laid the foundation stone for NTPC’s Sipat Super Thermal Power Project Stage-III (1x800MW) in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh.

The project is being constructed with an investment of Rs 9791 Crore to supply affordable and reliable power to Chhattisgarh as home state and other beneficiary states, such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra & Goa.

Hon’ble Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple developmental and transformative projects related to Power, Oil & Gas, Rail, Road, Education and Rural Housing worth more than Rs 33,700 crore at a public programme in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh in the presence of Hon’ble Governor of Chhattisgarh Shri Ramen Deka, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, Hon’ble Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Manohar Lal, Hon'ble Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Raman Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs Shri Tokhan Sahu, Hon’ble Ministers of the Govt of Chhattisgarh and Hon’ble MPs and MLAs.

The pit-head power project of NTPC Sipat is based on the latest state-of-the-art Ultra-Supercritical Technology with highest power generation efficiency. The commissioning of Sipat III – (1x800 MW) power plant will bring the total installed capacity of Sipat STPS to an impressive 3,780 MW.

The project highlights NTPC’s commitment to sustainable development, energy security and socio-economic growth. By advancing Chhattisgarh’s power infrastructure, the project is set to elevate the state as a leading player in India’s development journey, while fuelling its broader economic progress and shaping a brighter future for its people.

Tata Technologies Ends MoA With Chhattisgarh Government

Tata Technologies has announced the termination of its Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Chhattisgarh Government. This agreement was initially aimed at upgrading 36 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Centers of Excellence (CoE) in the state.

The termination of the agreement between Tata Technologies and the Chhattisgarh Government was primarily due to the state government's decision to explore other alternatives to achieve the project goals. This led to the mutual decision to end the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for upgrading 36 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) into Centers of Excellence (CoE).

Tata Technologies has agreed to initiate the refund process for the escrow amount.

It was in June last year when the Chhattisgarh government has launched various skill development initiatives to empower its diverse workforce and enable the state manufacturing and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) industry.

The Chhattisgarh Government decided to explore other alternatives to achieve the project goals.

Meanwhile, Tata Technologies has seen a 16% decline in its stock price since its strong debut. Analysts have lowered target prices due to disappointing quarterly results, impacting investor sentiment.

Last month, Tata Technologies has announced partnership with Arm to drive innovation in software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and collaborated with Microsoft and Tata Motors for the InnoVent hackathon, focusing on Generative AI.

Two of the World’s 5 Largest Coal Mines Now in India

Chhattisgarh-based Coal India subsidiary South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) operates two of the world's largest coal mines in India — Gevra and Kusmunda, which have secured the 2nd and 4th spot in the list of the world’s 10 largest coal mines released by WorldAtlas.com.

1. Gevra Coal Mine: Located in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh, the Gevra opencast mine produces approximately 70 million tons of coal annually. In the financial year 2023-24, it produced 59 million tons of coal. Gevra started operations in 1981 and has enough coal reserves to meet India's energy requirements for the next 10 years.

2. Kusmunda Coal Mine: Kusmunda achieved a remarkable feat by producing more than 50 million tons of coal in the same financial year. It is the second mine in India, after Gevra, to achieve this milestone.

Both mines deploy advanced mining machines, including the "Surface Miner," which extracts coal without blasting, and large HEMMs (Heavy Earth Moving Machinery) for overburden removal. SECL's achievement is a testament to the hard work of coal workers and various stakeholders.

These mines contribute significantly to India's total coal production, which has grown from 382.62 million tons in 2004-05 to 893.19 million tons in 2022-23, with projections to touch 1000 million tons in 2023-24.