Parliament Question: Augmentation of Power Generation Capacity in Tamil Nadu

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1940 ANSWERED ON 30.07.2026 AUGMENTATION OF POWER GENERATION CAPACITY IN TAMIL NADU 1940. DR. RANI SRIKUMAR: SHRI C N ANNADURAI: SHRI SELVAM G: Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has prepared a long-term plan to augment power generation capacity in Tamil Nadu to meet the State's projected electricity demand up to the year 2034-35 and if so, the details thereof; (b) the details of thermal power generation projects under construction or approved in Tamil Nadu including their proposed capacity, estimated cost and expected year of commissioning; (c) whether the Government has assessed the requirement of additional thermal power capacity for Tamil Nadu and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to facilitate timely implementation of the proposed projects; (d) the measures being taken to ensure adequate coal supply, transmission infrastructure and environmental compliance for these projects; and (e) the expected impact of the proposed capacity addition on power availability, industrial growth, agricultural supply and long-term energy security in Tamil Nadu? A N S W E R THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF POWER (SHRI SHRIPAD NAIK) (a) : Ministry of Power had notified the Electricity (Amendment) Rules in December, 2022. Under Rule 16 of the Electricity (Amendment) Rules, Ministry of Power has notified ‘Resource Adequacy (RA) Guidelines’ in June, 2023. With a view to ensure generation capacity remains ahead of projected peak demand, all the Discoms / States including Tamil Nadu, in consultation with Central Electricity Authority (CEA), have prepared their “Resource Adequacy Plans (RAPs)” till 2035-36, which are dynamic ten-year rolling plans and includes power generation as well as power procurement planning, in accordance with the above-mentioned guidelines. ………2.- 2 - (b) : The details of the under-construction and proposed thermal power projects in the State of Tamil Nadu are given at Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively. (c) : As per the Resource Adequacy Plan (RAP) of Tamil Nadu till 2035-36, about 12,400 MW additional thermal capacity is required by 2034-35. Of these, 2,640 MW thermal capacity is under-construction in the State, 1000 MW thermal capacity is under bidding, and further, for setting up 660 MW thermal capacity, Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) has been issued. Tamil Nadu may either set up the balance capacity or tie up power from generation projects located within or outside the state. Ministry of Power through Central Electricity Authority (CEA) monitors the progress of under-construction power projects through frequent site visits and interaction with the developers and other stakeholders for resolving issues critical for projects commissioning. (d) : The following steps are being taken to ensure uninterrupted coal supply to power plants: i. To address the issues of coal supplies to power sector, an Inter- Ministerial Sub Group comprising of representatives from Ministries of Power, Coal, Railways, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Coal India Limited (CIL) and Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) meet regularly to take various operational decisions to enhance supply of coal to thermal power plants as well as for meeting any contingent situations relating to power sector including to alleviate critical coal stock position in power plants. ii. An Inter-ministerial Secretary-level meeting, comprising: Secretary (Power), Secretary (Coal) and Chairman Railway Board, is held regularly to monitor coal stocks. iii. CCEA has approved the Revised SHAKTI Policy for Coal Allocation to Power Sector on 07.05.2025 under which interested power plants may participate and secure coal linkages. In respect to transmission infrastructure, Tamil Nadu is well connected to the National Grid through a robust Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS), comprising 765 kV and 400 kV transmission lines as well as the ±800 kV HVDC system, enabling reliable power transfer with other States / Regions. The transmission network is strengthened on a continuous basis in line with evolving power transfer requirements to ensure reliable and secure evacuation and supply of power. Transmission systems, wherever required, are planned based on generation proposals received from the Central or State Sector through the established transmission planning process. ……….3.- 3 - The intra state transmission system (InSTS) has already been planned for evacuation of power from the under-construction thermal projects viz. Ennore SEZ (2x660 MW) and Udangudi STPP (2x660 MW). Environment Clearance (EC), which is granted by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), is the foremost requirement for establishment of new as well as expansion of thermal power capacity. All other clearances & permissions / approvals are processed only on the basis of grant of Environment Clearance; which is based on an elaborate and rigorous process. Further, the thermal power plants need to comply with emissions standards laid down by MoEF&CC, and the compliance is monitored by respective State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). (e) : The Resource Adequacy Plan(RAP) for Tamil Nadu till 2035-36 has been prepared considering demand projections that account for anticipated growth across all consumer sectors, including industrial, agricultural, commercial, domestic, and others. Based on these demand projections, the generation capacity addition envisaged under the RAP is likely to meet the State's projected electricity demand while ensuring energy security as far as electricity sector is concerned. **************ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1940 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 30.07.2026 ************* The details of the under-construction thermal power projects* in the State of Tamil Nadu: Sl. Name of the Sector Unit Capacity Estimated Expected No. Project No. Cost (Crores) Commissioning 1. Udangudi Super 1 660 14,572 August, 2026 Thermam Power State 2 660 December, Project Stage-I 2026 2. Ennore Special 1 660 20,663 August, 2027 Economic Zone 2 660 December, (SEZ) 2027 *As informed by State of Tamil Nadu *************ANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1940 ANSWERED IN THE LOK SABHA ON 30.07.2026 ************* The details of the proposed thermal power projects* in the State of Tamil Nadu: Sl. Name of the Sector Estimated Remark No. Project cost (Rs. in crore) 1 ETPS Expansion State 6,380.81 Tender Floated Thermal Project under Tariff (1x660MW) Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) mode 2 Uppur thermal project. State 12,778 Proposed (2x800 MW) through TBCB mode 3 Udangudi Thermal State - Land Acquisition Project Stage-II is Under (2x660MW) progress 4 Udangudi Thermal State - Land Acquisition Project Stage-III is Under (2x660MW) progress *As informed by State of Tamil Nadu *****************