223 old thermal power plants in the country will be rejuvenated
A 22-year phased plan has been prepared to modernize units with a capacity of 63,440 MW
New Delhi, August 6: The central government has taken a major step towards making power generation in the country more reliable and safe. The government has prepared a detailed phased plan for the renovation, modernization, and life extension (R&M/LE) of 223 coal-fired thermal power plants that are more than 20 years old. The modernization of these plants will be carried out in nine phases from January 2024 to June 2046, to maintain a balance between power demand and supply.
The government informed that on March 16, 2022, a committee of experts from NTPC, Central Electricity Authority (CEA), Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Limited (GSECL), and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) was constituted. Based on the committee's recommendations, the R&M Guidelines 2023 were prepared. Subsequently, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) identified 223 old thermal power plants across the country for modernization.
The plan covers 81 central sector, 116 state sector, and 26 private sector power generation plants. Their total installed capacity is 63,440 MW. To ensure that power generation is not affected during the modernization process, all work will be carried out in a phased manner.
However, the central government has clarified that no central financial assistance or separate scheme is available for the modernization of thermal power plants. The respective power generation companies will have to finance the renovation and life extension work from their own resources, depending on the viability of the project.
Shripad Naik, Minister of State in the Ministry of Power, provided this information in a written reply to Unstarred Question No. 3100 in the Lok Sabha on August 6, 2026.
