OREANDA-NEWS. February 28, 2012. It was a momentous occasion for Tata Power, India ’s largest integrated private power utility, when its wholly owned subsidiary Coastal Gujarat Power (CGPL), which is setting up India’s first ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Mundra, Gujarat, achieved full load on the country's first 800MW sized super critical unit, Unit 1, on February 25, 2012. Unit 1 was synchronised with the national grid on January 8, 2012. The commercial date of operation of the unit will be declared shortly.

Unit 1 has been ready for synchronisation since June 29, 2011, awaiting transmission evacuation system from PGCIL which got commissioned on September 29, 2011. Work on Units 2, 3, 4, and 5 is also on track and progressing well.

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Sardana, managing director, Tata Power, said, “The achievement of full load capacity of Unit 1, India’s first 800MW sized super-critical unit, is a significant milestone not only for Mundra UMPP but for the country. This is the largest single turbine in the country and we wish to express our gratitude and thanks to all who have helped us in this unique achievement. The project is on schedule and we will be announcing commissioning soon.”

The 4,000MW Mundra UMPP is the first of the UMPPs which herald the entry of the 800-MW super critical boiler technology in India. This technology is environment-friendly and efficient. The project site of approximately 1,000 hectares is located south of Tunda Wand village in Mundra taluka, Kutch district, Gujarat. The project consists of five units, each of 800MW, which will generate saleable power of 3,800MW to be supplied to five states; namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. The super-critical technology and the choice of unit sizes will help the project achieve higher efficiency, thus saving fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions vis-a-vis conventional technology prevailing in the country.

Tata Power has always been a pioneer in the Indian power sector with an excellent track record. It has been a front-runner in introducing state-of-the-art power technologies and setting benchmarks. Among its achievements, the company has to its credit, the installation of India’s first 150MW unit and 500MW unit at Trombay, the first 150MW pumped storage unit at Bhira, and a flue gas de-sulphurisation plant for pollution control at Trombay. It has now brought the first 800MW super-critical unit at Mundra, Gujarat.