Question : LIGNITE BASED POWER PROJECT IN SOUTH GUJARAT

(a) whether the Government of Gujarat has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited (NLC) in July, 2006 for implementation of a Lignite based 1500 MG Power project in South Gujarat with the hope that Gujarat will have at least ninety per cent of the total power generation to ensure supply of power to the people of the State at an affordable rate;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government of Gujarat has expressed its view that the project may be taken over by Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited (GIPCL) instead of joint venture with NLC Limited;

(d) if so, whether the Government of Gujarat has requested the Union Government to impress upon NLC Limited to convey its `No Objection Certificate` (NOC) for allocation of lignite blocks in South Gujarat to Government of Gujarat or its PSU i.e. GIPCL; and

(e) if so, the time by which the said NOC is likely to be conveyed by NLC Ltd.?

MINISTER OF STATE (I/C) IN THE MINISTRY OF COAL, POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a & b) :Yes, Sir. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) and Government of Gujarat (GoG) on 28.7.2007 to promote a Joint Venture Company (JVC) with the aim of establishing and operating an integrated lignite mine and lignite based Thermal Power Project of 1000 MW capacity in the 1st Phase and another 500 MW in the 2nd Phase subject to confirmation of availability of adequate lignite reserve in South Gujarat (Valia E, F, G Blocks). It was indicated in the MoU that sharing of the power shall be fixed by Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.

(c): During the joint meeting held between the Principal Secretary, Industry Department, GoG & NLC on 13.3.2013, the GoG, requested NLC to issue ‘No Objection Certificate’ for E,F,G blocks for development by State Public Sector Undertaking (PSU). NLC informed that an MOU had already been signed between NLC and GoG for establishing and operating an integrated lignite mine based power project of 1000 MW capacity in the first phase and addition 500 MW second phase by utilizing the E, F, G blocks. Hence, NLC had not agreed to issue ‘No Objection Certificate’ to GoG for the E, F & G blocks.

(d)&(e) : Yes, Sir. GoG has made a request to Ministry of Coal to impress upon NLC Limited to convey its `No Objection Certificate` (NOC) for allocation of lignite blocks in South Gujarat to GoG or its PSU. The request of GoG is under consideration.