Chandigarh, June 8 – In a major boost to Punjab’s power infrastructure, the Centre has approved the establishment of three supercritical thermal power plants of 800 MW capacity each, aimed at addressing the state’s rising electricity demand, particularly during the paddy season.
Of the three units, two will be built at the site of the old Ropar thermal plant, replacing dismantled 210 MW units. The third will be developed by a private player at a location yet to be decided.
This marks the first significant thermal power expansion in the state since the Lehra Mohabbat plant was commissioned in 1997. With the new additions, Punjab’s public sector power generation capacity is set to nearly match that of private thermal players.
“Two 800 MW supercritical thermal units will come up at the Ropar site. The land, water, and railway infrastructure already exist there, which makes the project viable,” said Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO. He added that the first unit is expected to be commissioned within four to five years of awarding the contract, with the second following six months later.
The decision comes after the Union government accepted Punjab’s argument that the state’s coal mine at Pachwara is under-utilised and that most of the supporting infrastructure at Ropar is already in place. Earlier, the Centre had been reluctant to approve projects far from coal pitheads due to the high cost of transportation.
Punjab currently generates around 2,300 MW from public sector plants and 3,380 MW through private players. Once the 1,600 MW addition is completed, the public sector’s capacity will nearly equal that of the private sector.
“This is a big leap for the state’s energy sector. We will finally reduce our dependence on private thermal plants,” said a senior PSPCL official. “There is sufficient coal available, and this expansion ensures long-term energy security for Punjab.”
The state’s overall power availability is approximately 16,800 MW, but demand is projected to surpass 17,000 MW during the ongoing paddy season. Punjab has already sought 1,000 MW of additional power from the Union Government to bridge the gap.
Last year, the state government acquired the 540 MW Goindwal Sahib thermal power plant from a private firm. In contrast, the Bathinda thermal plant was decommissioned during the previous Congress regime.
For the third 800 MW unit, PSPCL will float an open tender. “We have sought consultancy from Power Finance Corporation. A report is expected in the next three months, after which we will assess finances and proceed with tendering,” the PSPCL official added.
The expansion signals a renewed focus on strengthening state-controlled energy generation, aiming for greater self-sufficiency and cost-efficiency in Punjab’s power supply.
