NTPC: Powering India
NTPC, a Maharatna company, is undoubtedly India’s largest energy conglomerate having a total installed capacity of nearly 53,000 MW (including JVs) with 20 coal-based, seven gas-based stations, one hydro, one small hydro-based station, one wind-based station and nine subsidiaries / joint venture power stations. The esteemed jury members have given an overall average score of 2.71 having ranked it across eight categories in this year’s annual special issue of BW Most Respected Companies.
NTPC currently employs over 19,700 people while consistently improving the overall productivity. In terms of Man: MW (mega watt) ratio NTPC has improved its productivity from 0.51 in FY17 to 0.44 in FY18.
Earlier in the year, NTPC was recognised as “Laureate” for consistently ranking among “Top 50 Best Companies to Work for in India” by a leading business daily survey. Besides, NTPC was also recognised as the best among PSUs and in manufacturing.
Says Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, NTPC: “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 organization. Further, our thrust on learning and development has been reflected in winning globally recognized ATD award consecutively for two years in a row.
NTPC gets respectability as a company due to a number of reasons. To strengthen its core business, NTPC has diversified into the fields of consultancy, power trading, training of power professionals, rural electrification, ash utilization and coal mining as well. Apart from power generation, NTPC also undertakes consultancy and turnkey project contracts that involve engineering, project management, construction management and operation and management of power plants. The New-Delhi based firm has also ventured into oil and gas exploration and coal mining activities. NTPC has been operating its plants at high efficiency levels. 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 high efficiency.
The company’s continuous focus on employee capability, health, growth prospects going forward, culture of mutual trust and respect and best of the infrastructure facilities at townships even at the remotest locations are few key motivators which propels its employees to deliver their best. The company’s thrust on creating a ‘learning culture’ provides ample opportunities to its workforce for their 360 degree development. Furthermore, international exposure is being given to middle and senior level executives at premier business schools like Harvard, Wharton etc.
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). NTPC currently produces nearly 300 billion units of electricity per year.
“The growth numbers in both cases were much higher than national average. The company’s PLF has consistently maintained a positive difference of over 15 per cent as compared to the national PLF. We are strongly committed to the development and growth of all our employees as individuals and not just as employees,” Singh said while addressing shareholders in an annual report FY 2017-18.
On the raw material front, NTPC is steadily increasing production of coal from the eight blocks it was awarded. With two mines that have already begun production, Singh recently said NTPC eyes output at 8.5 million tonnes next year, increasing it from 6.5 million tonnes this year. “The total capacity can go up to 100 million tonnes in the next 8-10 years,” he said.
