OREANDA-NEWS. Essar Power Hazira Ltd’s (EPHL) eco-friendly greenfield 135MW multi-fuel power plant at Hazira, Gujarat, has set an industry benchmark by registering strong performance in its very first full quarter of operations.

EPHL recorded a Plant Load Factor of 98.22% in the quarter ended 31st December 2015, compared to 78.44% in the previous quarter—an improvement of over 25%. The net power generated during the period under review was 263.5 MU.

The company recorded a revenue of Rs 52.91 crore and EBITDA of Rs 45.89 crore for the quarter ended 31st December 2015.

The EPHL plant is a greenfield multi-fuel power project that is designed to use Corex coal, Corex coal fines, mixture of Corex gas and coke oven gas and imported thermal coal. It is designed to operate on 100% Corex coal or 100% Corex gas, or in any combination of the two. Once completed, the project will be able to reduce around 6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

EPHL started commercial operations of Unit I (135MW of a total capacity of 270 MW) in July 2015. Since then the operations have been consistent. The plant has achieved 100% reliability from the third month of operations—a remarkable achievement for any coal-fired plant.

“Our company is a game changer for Essar Steel Hazira’s steel complex. By consuming Corex gas coal fines to produce and supply cost-effective power, it helps reduce the overall steel production cost,” said Nishith Dayal, Managing Director, EPHL.

EPHL is a captive power supplier to Essar Steel India Limited, which operates a 10 million tonnes steel plant in Hazira.

The multi-fuel firing capability gives unmatched flexibility and profitability to steelmaking operations. The plant has been running continuously in November 2015 and December 2015, giving Essar Steel the option to make frequent fuel switch-over between Corex gas and coal fines. It has generated 493 MU of power since synchronisation with an availability of 92%. It has used 238 million cubic metre of Corex gas, which otherwise would have been flared to atmosphere. In this way it has successfully reduced CO2 emissions.

EPHL is focusing on making the second unit operational at the earliest to generate additional revenues and operate the plant optimally. It is expected to be commissioned by June 2016.

About Essar Power Ltd
Essar Power Ltd is one of India's top five private sector power producers with over 20 years’ operating track record. Essar Power owns power plants in India and Canada with a total generation capacity of 6,100 MW, of which 4,675 MW is operational.

Of the total operational capacity, 3,075 MW is coal-based, while 1,600 MW is gas-based. The operating plants in India are at Mahan, Hazira, Salaya and Vadinar. A 1,200 MW plant at Tori in Jharkhand state is under commissioning. Essar has set up these projects at very competitive capex.