Quick Links
Connect us
Directors Databank
Become a faculty
Blog
Become an Awards Assessor
Publications
Contact Us
Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow: A special story from NLC India Limited
NLC India Limited (NLCIL) is a leading Central Public Sector Enterprise, playing a key role in India's lignite production and power generation from both thermal and renewable energy sources.
Leading public sector enterprise in India
For more than six glorious decades, NLC India Limited has been a forerunner amongst the Public Sector Enterprises in the country in the energy sector, contributing to a lion's share in lignite production and a significant share in thermal and renewable energy generation. Incorporated in the year 1956, NLC India Limited is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal. The company has established its presence across India, with operation spanning Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Sustainable mining
As a pioneer in the energy sector, NLCIL operates three opencast lignite mines with a total installed capacity of 28 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) at Neyveli with one opencast Lignite Mine at Barsingsar in Rajasthan with an installed capacity of 2.10 MTPA and an open cast coal mine at Talabira in Odisha with an installed capacity of 20 MTPA. Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd. (NUPPL) - a joint venture of NLC India Limited and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited is developing the Pachwara South Coal Block of 9 MTPA capacity in Jharkhand. NLCIL won the North Dhadu (Western Part) of 3 MTPA Capacity Coal block in Commercial Coal block auctioning. In the recent commercial coal mine auction, NLCIL bagged a coal mine of 30 MTPA at Machhakata in Odisha. This is the second commercial coal mine block for NLCIL and the company is committed to its capacity addition in line with the corporate plan to achieve a mining capacity of 100+ MTPA by 2030.
Excellence in thermal power generation
NLCIL is also operating 4 lignite based pit-head thermal power stations with an aggregate capacity of 3390 Mega Watt (MW) at Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, and one 250 MW Lignite Thermal Power Station (BTPS) at Barsingsar, Rajasthan. NTPL, a joint venture of TANGEDCO and NLCIL is operating 1000 MW coal-based thermal plant in the Tuticorin District of Tamil Nadu.
NLCIL is aiming to become a 20 GW energy powerhouse by 2030. Towards realizing this dream, NLCIL is already in expansion mode. NLCIL's JV with the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (UPRVUNL) is setting up a 3x660 MW coal-based super critical Thermal Power Station at Ghatampur in UP and its Unit 1 was synchronized with the grid on 04.12.2023. In Sambalpur, Odisha, Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for NLC India Limited's (NLCIL) 2,400-megawatt ultra-supercritical thermal power plant on February 3, 2024.
Going green for a sustainable future
NLCIL also ventured into the renewable energy sector by 2011. Presently, the company is operating 1380 MW of solar power plants in various districts of Tamil Nadu and Andaman & Nicobar Islands and 51 MW wind power plant in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. NLCIL is the first CPSE to cross 1 GW capacity in solar power generation in the country. Now the company has become a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). NLCIL is aiming to achieve a total renewable energy capacity of 10 GW by 2030.
NLCIL plans to install several solar/wind power projects in various parts of the country. A wholly owned subsidiary company, 'NLC India Renewables Limited; (NIRL) was incorporated on June 14, 2023 to take over the existing renewable assets of NLCIL. On October 13, 2023, NLC India Green Energy Limited (NIGEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NLCIL was incorporated to drive the future renewable energy projects of NLCIL. The company had been an early bird in embracing the sustainability concept through renewable energy capacity. Initiatives like battery energy storage System for smoothening the power output of solar project are one of a kind in the Nation.
Currently, establishing 50 MW solar project in the mined out land are initiatives that address sustainability and effective repurposing of mined out land. Not just mining and power generation, NLCIL has contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of the nation for more than six decades.
Back to HomeAuthor
Mr. Prasanna Kumar Motupalli
Chairman and Managing Director NLC India Limited
Owned by: Institute of Directors, India
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles/ stories are the personal opinions of the author. IOD/ Editor is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in those articles. The information, facts or opinions expressed in the articles/ speeches do not reflect the views of IOD/ Editor and IOD/ Editor does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
