NTPC signs initial pact for Chhattisgarh geothermal project

New Delhi: NTPC has signed an initial agreement with the Geological Survey of India to set up a geothermal power project at Tattapani in Chhattisgarh.

"A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between NTPC and Geological Survey of India today...for preparation of DPR (Detailed Project Report) for geothermal power project at Tattapani," NTPC said today in a statement, without providing financial details.[caption id="attachment_1327445" align="alignleft" width="380"] Power project in the offing in Chhattisgarh. Reuters[/caption]

Ajit Kumar, executive director (Business Development) at NTPC, and PB Sarolkar, deputy director general, GSI, signed the agreement.

NTPC had earlier signed an MoU with the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Development Agency to set up the project at Tattapani. Geothermal power projects use heat from rocks and fluids in the earth's crust to generate electricity.

NTPC's current installed generation capacity is 42,454 MW. The company plans to add about 20,000 MW by 2017.

It has about 1,500 MW of hydro power capacity under construction and operates about 4,000 MW of gas-based power plants in the country.

PTI