OREANDA-NEWS. March 09, 2012. India’s largest Integrated private power utility Tata Power’s wholly owned subsidiary, Coastal Gujarat Power (CGPL), which is setting up India’s first ultra mega power project (UMPP) in Mundra, Gujarat, today announced the commissioning of Unit 1, the country's first 800MW-sized super-critical unit Unit 1 was earlier synchronised with the national grid on January 8, 2012, and had achieved full load on February 25, 2012.

The country’s first 800MW unit, Unit 1, has been ready for synchronisation since June 29, 2011, awaiting transmission evacuation system from PGCIL, which got commissioned on September 29, 2011.

Unit 1 was commissioned earlier today in a record 48 months of construction work starting on the project.

Work on Units 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the project is on track and progressing well.

Speaking on the occasion, Anil Sardana, managing director, Tata Power, said, “We are very happy to announce the commissioning of Unit 1, India’s first 800MWsized super-critical unit. It is a momentous achievement and is a landmark event for our country. Mundra UMPP is a fine example of project execution excellence demonstrated by the Tata Power team. As the first step in generating the proposed 4,000MW power, which will benefit five states, we are proud to say that the work is on schedule. We are thankful to all the concerned authorities and our stakeholders for the support extended for setting up this project in time.”

The 4,000MW Mundra UMPP is the first of the UMPPs that herald the entry of the 800MW super-critical boiler technology in India, which is environment-friendly and efficient. The project site, 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 viz 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 performance 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.