Two Additional 800 MW Power Units Approved for Ropar; New 800 MW Plant to Be Set Up in Punjab
Chandigarh, June 6, 2025:
Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO’s persistent efforts have secured a major breakthrough with the Union Power Ministry’s approval to establish two additional 800 MW power generation units at the Ropar Thermal Plant, along with a new 800 MW unit elsewhere in Punjab.
The announcement came during a conference of North Indian Power Ministers held today under the chairmanship of Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Representatives from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Delhi participated in the meeting.
Raising Punjab’s power requirements, Harbhajan Singh ETO highlighted the need to expand the generation capacity of Ropar Thermal Plant. He pointed out that although Punjab has its own coal reserves, the existing restriction imposed by the Union Government limiting coal transportation to 1,000 kilometers has hindered plant expansion. In response, the Union Power Minister directed officials to extend the coal transport limit to over 1,500 kilometers, facilitating the project’s advancement.
With these approvals, Punjab is set to add 2,400 MW of thermal power capacity, strengthening the state’s energy infrastructure significantly.
Addressing the Union Government’s target of 7,000 MW solar power generation in Punjab, the Minister noted challenges due to high land costs within the state. To overcome this, Punjab is exploring solar power projects in neighboring states to ensure reliable power supply.
In view of the ongoing paddy season, Harbhajan Singh ETO strongly urged the Union Government to promptly fulfill Punjab’s request for 1,000 MW of additional power supply. Currently, Punjab receives 275 MW from the central pool, which he said is insufficient to support timely irrigation of paddy crops. He emphasized Punjab’s vital role in the nation’s food security and called for immediate action to meet power demands during this critical period.
The Minister also highlighted delays in upgrading two 100 MVA transformers to 160 MVA at BBMB Jalandhar, a project fully funded by the Punjab Government but stalled due to pending administrative approvals. He called for expedited action to ensure smooth operation of the Jalandhar unit.
Further, Harbhajan Singh ETO raised concerns over the Union Government’s RDSS scheme, which originally proposed a 60:40 funding split for a Rs. 3,600 crore project to enhance Punjab’s power infrastructure. Due to rising project costs and fixed central grants, the central share has decreased to 40%, causing an estimated loss of Rs. 300 crore to the state. The Minister requested reconsideration of the project’s funding at revised costs.
Reaffirming the state government’s commitment, Harbhajan Singh ETO stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration remains dedicated to delivering reliable and quality power to the people of Punjab.