Bandel Thermal Power Station

Bandel Thermal Power Station is a coal-based power plant situated on the western bank of Hooghly River at Tribeni, a neighbourhood in Bansberia, near Bandel, in the Indian state of West Bengal, 3 km off the Grand Trunk Road/ NH 19 (old numbering NH 2). The power plant is operated by the West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL). At the time of its commissioning in 1983, its Unit-5 was first of its kind in Eastern India and fifth in India.

Operations
The power station has 3 operational units with a total installed capacity of 335 MW (2x60, 1x215 MW). The electricity generated is distributed by WBSEDCL to the residents of West Bengal (excepting Kolkata). All of the units are coal based thermal power stations. During the fiscal year 2006-07 the plant consumed a total of 1.68 e6MT of coal. The coal required by the power station is supplied by Coal India Limited. 90% of the coal requirement is sourced from indigenous mines and the remaining 10% is imported. Coal is transported to the power plant by Indian Railways.

The average plant load factor of Bandel Thermal Power Station for the fiscal year 2011-12 was 47.11%. Its auxiliary power consumption for the fiscal year 2011-12 was between 11.51%, which is greater than the national average of 8.44%.

Future Developments
Bandel Thermal Power Station Unit-5 (215 MW) is selected for the Coal Fired Generation Rehabilitation Project funded by World Bank for demonstrating Energy Efficiency Rehabilitation & Modernization (EE R&M). As a part of this project, World Bank has earmarked US$180 million of IBRD loan and US$37.9 million of GEF grants for the Component-1. WBPDCL has signed a contract with M/s Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Company, Korea (DHIC) and their associate on February 29, 2012, for energy efficiency renovation & modernization of Unit-5 of Bandel Thermal Power Station.