OREANDA-NEWS. Tata Power, India’s largest integrated power utility, through its wholly owned subsidiary Coastal Gujarat Power (CGPL), announced the commissioning of the fifth unit of 800MW at the country’s first Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) and the country’s greenest plant with coal in Mundra, Gujarat. With this commissioning, the entire 4,000MW Mundra UMPP has become commercially operational and is working towards national prosperity and competitiveness.

The 4,000MW Mundra UMPP is the first of the UMPPs that herald the entry of 800MW super-critical boiler technology in India, which is environment friendly and efficient. The total power generation capacity of Tata Power currently stands at 8,500MW, reinforcing its position as the largest integrated power company in India.

Tata Power’s Mundra UMPP has been completed in a record time of one year from the date of commissioning of the first 800MW unit in March 2012. The average gap taken between synchronisation of two units has been 3.5 months, which is better than the baseline schedule of four months and is much better than the five months provided in the original PPA.

Speaking about this milestone, Anil Sardana, managing director, Tata Power, said, “With Unit No 5's commissioning, we are proud and privileged to contribute the 'monument of technological and project management excellence at Mundra' to the nation. The project completion within a record time of one year from the commissioning of the first unit reinforces Tata Power’s commitment to bridge the energy demand supply gap in India and reinforces our group’s commitment of 'a promise is a promise'. The project management and operational expertise employed in executing the power project ahead of schedule with predictable, cost, quality and safety will now be continued in operating the plant in an effective and efficient manner. Tata Power firmly believes that UMPPs are the solution to India’s energy problems. Towards this, we eagerly await a viable solution by CERC and the beneficiary states, and look forward to an early resolution to the issue.”

The technology used for the 4,000MW Mundra UMPP and the choice of unit sizes will help save fuel, provide the nation with competitive generation and cut down the greenhouse gas emissions significantly as compared to regular coal-fired power stations.