NTPC: Energising The Nation
NTPC’s roots were planted to accelerate power development in India and the company has gone on to become India’s largest energy conglomerate. With its core business being generation and sale of electricity to State-owned power distribution companies and state electricity boards in India, the company was conferred Maharatna status by the Union Government in 2010, one of the only four companies to be awarded this status. The New Delhi-based firm’s growth strategy includes capacity addition through green-field projects, expansion of existing stations, joint ventures & acquisition of stressed assets. It currently produces nearly 300 billion units of electricity per year.
“Operation and maintenance of power stations, project execution, adoption of new technologies and efficiency improvement measures and thrust on employee capability building are the key strengths of the organisation. Further, our thrust on Learning and Development has been reflected in winning globally recognised ATD award consecutively for two years in a row,” says Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC.
NTPC is India’s largest power utility having a total installed capacity of nearly 53,000 MW (including JVs) with 20 coal-based, 7 gas-based stations, 1 Hydro, 1 small hydro-based station, 1 Wind based station and 9 subsidiaries / joint venture power stations. During the financial year 2017-18, the NTPC group contributed 23 per cent of total electricity generated in India with 16 per cent share of country’s total installed capacity. Around 3,478 MW capacity added during the financial year 2017-18. “The company has won 245 MW of solar capacity for Uttar Pradesh New & Renewable Energy Development Agency recently. Though the capacity is small, this shall pave a big way for non-conventional business development in future. Nearly 8 GW of commercial capacity has been added in a span of two-and-half years. Also, NTPC has acquired JV partner’s equity in two plants with combined capacity of 2,590 MW. Acquisition of few other assets are also in pipeline,” explains Singh.
NTPC has achieved a capex of Rs 24,133.61 crore (standalone) and 31,036.56 crore (group) during financial year 2017-18 and has earmarked Rs. 22,300 for the current fiscal. The company has also achieved the milestone of generating 5 trillion units of electricity from its power stations spread across the country since inception. At present, the company has projects of over 20,000 MW under construction at multiple locations in the country.
“We have started production from two coal mines, extracted over 7 MMT coal and the production is geared up. Increased thrust is being given on environment and safety to mitigate associated business risks. Various initiatives have been launched within the company for optimisation of cost and resources for improved productivity and profitability. We are working with the motto of ‘Low Cost, Low Emission and Highest Safety’,” Singh adds.
Some of the other new initiatives being pursued by NTPC include diversification in electric vehicle (EV) segment, foray into packaged drinking water business, possible acquisition of thermal power assets and getting into fertiliser business.
People before PLF (plant load factor) is the guiding philosophy behind the entire gamut of HR policies at NTPC. Although the company has 15.56 per cent of the total national capacity, it contributes 22.74 per cent of total power generation due to its focus on operating its power plants at higher efficiency levels (approx. 80.2 per cent against the national PLF rate of 64.5 per cent). The company is envisioning for a capacity that will have a diversified fuel mix and by 2032, non-fossil fuel based generation capacity shall make up nearly 30 per cent of NTPC’s portfolio.
