The Union Cabinet has approved equity investments of Rs 5,607 crore by state-owned South Eastern Coalfields and Mahanadi Coalfields to set up two thermal power projects with total generation capacities of 2,260 MW.

South Eastern Coalfields (SECL) will set up a 660 MW thermal power plant through a joint venture of SECL and MPPGCL while Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) will set up a 2x800 MW thermal power plant through Mahanadi Basin Power (MBPL, a subsidiary of MCL).

“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved proposal for equity investment by South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) for setting-up 1×660 MW thermal power plant through JV of SECL and MPPGCL; and Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) for setting-up 2x800 MW thermal power plant through Mahanadi Basin Power Ltd (MBPL - a subsidiary of MCL),” said the government in a press note.

There will be an equity capital of Rs 823 crore (plus or minus 20% ) by SECL with an estimated project capex of Rs 5,600 crore (accuracy of plus or minus 20%) for the proposed 660 MW supercritical thermal power plant through JV of SECL and MPPGCL at Amarkantak Thermal Power Station in Madhya Pradesh.