A group of experts reviewing the power ministry's and Central Electricity Authority's report on the restructuring of National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd has recommended that the power PSU enter into a joint venture with the Nuclear Power Corporation for setting up a nuclear power plant.
The group has recommended the creation of new departments for coal mining and washery as well as the creation of director-level posts in the company.
"For the nuclear power joint venture, NTPC may provide technical support on conventional turbo generator and auxiliaries, while NPC could pool in their expertise on the nuclear reactor block. NTPC's expertise in contract management will be a perfect fit for the arrangement," government sources told Business Standard.
The group favours the formation of a joint venture, keeping in mind the present favourable scenario of cooperation in nuclear fuel supply and technology transfer with developed countries, that may further facilitate such an initiative.
The group, headed by Central Electricity Authority Chairman Rakesh Nath, has recommended setting up a dedicated coal-mining department and a coal washery department. "This has been done with an aim towards repositioning and capacity building," sources added.
The group has recommended the creation of posts of director for hydroelectric projects development and planning and business development.
New positions of executive director (civil design), executive director (hydro), executive director (dam design and safety) may also be created.
The recommendations have been made to boost NTPC's foray into coal mining in the domestic and international market, as well as to address the problem of poor coal quality for its power plants. "Creating a post of director (hydro) will help in establishing more than 11,000 MW of hydro capacity by 2017," sources said.
The group has also recommended strengthening regional headquarters by creating four posts of directors at the regional level after two years of development of expertise in engineering, contracts and operations at this level.
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