Essar Energy has several power projects planned but these may slow down due to lack of coal linkages and land-acquisition issues

While all eyes are on the Ambani brothers for the mega-power projects they are planning to set up, Essar Energy has drawn up ambitious plans that aim to set up around 7,850MW of power capacity over the next three years. The company is planning 13 power projects, some of which are expansions of operational power plants. The company has around 1,220MW of gross capacity which is currently operational.
 
However, Essar's plans will be hampered by problems of coal availability, which is a major difficulty staring at developers of power projects since most Indian coal lies in Naxalite-infested areas from where it has become difficult to extract coal.

Even the largest power companies, such as government-owned National Thermal Power Corporation, are looking to source coal from abroad. Other than domestic coal issues, power projects in India also face delays due to issues like land acquisition and environmental clearances. Essar Energy's proposed power plants are yet another example of this.
   
Out of its 13 power-generation projects, four projects-Mahan I (1,200MW), Tori I (1,200MW), Tori II (600MW) and Neptune-I are domestic equity coal-based projects. The fuel supply for the Tori plants is supposed to come from Chakla and Ashok Karkata coal blocks. According to sources, the Chakla coal block has been facing issues due to delay in surrender of the coal block by Central Coalfields Ltd. The Chakla block was allotted to Essar Power in February 2007. 

 On being questioned about the status of these two blocks, the company stated, "The geological report coupled with the mining, planning & environmental clearances along with land acquisition need to be finalised subjected to internal surveys of the Ashok Karkata block." The production date for this block will also depend on this survey.
 
On the Chakla block, it stated, "It (Essar) has applied for an environmental clearance and a hearing was also held in June 2009. Production from this block is expected to start by Q1 CY12. Applications for extending the validity of the Chakla and Ashok Karkata coal blocks have also been made."

Fuel supply for Mahan I is to be sourced from Mahan coal block in Madhya Pradesh. According to sources, the ministry of environment and forests has yet to grant environmental clearance to this coal block. The Mahan coal block was allotted for joint development in April 2006 to Hindalco Industries and Essar Power. 

According to a company statement, "There has been some delay to the forest clearance on the Mahan coal block so this is unlikely to be in production by Q3 2010. We expect to give a further update with progress on this at our half-year results. We have applied for coal linkage to ensure that the Mahan power station can commence production as planned."
 
The fuel supply for the Mahan II power project is yet to be tied up. According to a company statement, the domestic coal linkage for the project is likely to be completed by CY10. Land acquisition and ownership formalities are also pending for the Mahan I and Mahan II power projects. Mahan I is expected to start operations in Q3CY11, six years later from the time it was first proposed in 2005.

Mahan II is expected to be commissioned by CY13. One of Essar Energy's presentation slides states that the Mahan project's Power Purchase agreement (PPA) with the State Electricity Board (SEB) is yet to be executed. The expansion project at Hazira in Gujarat was first announced in 2005. The land acquisition is yet to be completed and the company expects it to be completed by Q2CY10. The project is now expected to be commissioned by Q4CY12, seven years after the first announcement. Another 120MW power plant planned at Paradip, Orissa is also marred by land-acquisition issues with locals. The land is expected to be acquired by Q3CY10.
 
Essar's all four operational plants are either gas-based (1,015MW) or captive fuel based. Out of the planned 7,850MW capacity expansion, around 3,030MW capacity worth of power plants are based on totally imported coal or are imported equity coal-based projects. Vadinar Phase I which is an existing capacity expansion project is the only gas-based project. The company plans to commission this project by the third quarter of CY2010. The company plans to commission around 2,900MW worth of capacity by CY2011-Salaya I, Mahan I and Vadinar Phase II. Another 1,590MW is expected to be commissioned by CY2012.