THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala and Orissa have agreed to jointly generate 2,000 MW power by establishing a coal-based thermal plant in Orissa. Kerala will get 1,000 MW as its share."The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here on Monday,” Electricity Minister Aryadan Mohammed said.The power is generated from the Baitarani West Coal Block in Orissa which the Union Power Ministry had allotted to state-run companies Orissa Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) and the Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd (GPCL) in July, 2007.KSEB’s share from the 602 million-tonne coal block was 200.67 million tonne. While Gujarat plans to convert its share of coal mined from the Baitarani Coal Fields into thermal power back home, Kerala and Orissa will do it at the proposed plant in Orissa.Kerala and Orissa will share the expenses of setting up the plant and go fifty-fifty on the generated power.A company, BWWCL, was formed in 2008 with OHPC and GPCL to mine coal.According to information provided by Aryadan Mohammed in the Assembly the other day, mining of coal was expected to begin in 2013-14. Aryadan Mohammed, representatives from Orissa and Gujarat and state power officials were present on Monday for the meeting.
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