Business

OHPC Celebrates 28th Foundation Day: Progress towards cheaper and greener energy

By Bishnupada Sethi

Posted on April 22, 2023

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On 21st April 2023 OHPC celebrated its 28th foundation day.

The journey of OHPC towards becoming a leading Hydro Power Generation Company with diversified energy portfolio is truly spectacular.

Carved out of Power Sector Reform and Restructuration Programme undertaken by Government of Odisha in April 1996, Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) has since then embarked upon the nonchalant path of progress and development, thereby in the process earned coveted Gold Rating among state PSUs.

The path of this glorious journey of twenty-seven years has been crowned with numerous achievements, primarily amongst which is OHPC’s commitment to provide cheapest possible power to people of Odisha leading to sustenance of power sector. OHPC as a profit making and dividend earning PSU is consistently contributing to the state exchequer. So far total Dividend paid by OHPC is around Rs. 242 Cr.

At the time of inception, the installed capacity of OHPC was 1273.50 MW. During these 27 years of journey, the installed capacity of OHPC has been increased to 2099.8 MW after commissioning of Upper Indravati Hydro Electric Project the largest Hydro Power Station of the state with capacity of 600 MW during 1999-2001 and subsequent addition of 150 MW at Balimela Hydro Electric Project during 2007-08 and enhancing Capacity of Odisha Share from 36MW to 60MW in Machhkund (Joint) HE Project. Further OHPC has renovated, modernized and uprated its several old units and thereby enhancing the installed capacity to the present value.

OHPC being one of the cheapest electricity power generating corporation has been contributing around 15% of total electricity consumption of the state and meeting around 25% of peak power demand and this uninterrupted contribution is pivotal to the operational reliability of Odisha power system.

OHPC has achieved a mile stone generation of record high peak power of 1841.43 MW on 08.09.2022. The successes of OHPC are the manifestation of the original vision of the power sector programme of Odisha Government converted into an extraordinary meaningful and measurable success story.

OHPC has created new bench-marks in generation, modernization and social commitments. OHPC has put thrust on increasing generation capacity of existing units along with exploring development of new projects such as pump storage power plants. It has not left any stone unturned for the capacity upgradation of existing power stations by way of Renovation and Modernization of three power stations such as three Units at CHEP, Chiplima, Six Units at HHEP, Burla and Two Units of BHEP, Balimela.

Maintaining its prime objective of generating cheap and green energy and supporting Grid stability, OHPC during its journey has also diversified itself by venturing into several subsidiaries and joint-ventures such as GEDCOL a wholly owned subsidiary having 27 MW installed capacity of Solar energy and 15 MW in pipe line, GSPCL a JV with SAIL with objective of setting up 10 MW Mandira Small Hydro-electric Project.

Apart from generating power OHPC is committed to the development of the state and welfare of its people through corporate social programmes in vicinity of its projects and other areas as well. OHPC through its own CSR policy has been carrying out a number of activities in the field of Rural Development. Education, Livelihood, Healthcare, Infrastructure development, Preservation of state’s ancient culture and tradition and creating a Socioeconomic Balance in remote areas.

Some of the major activities OHPC are financial assistance for setting up COVID-19 hospitals in Gajapati and Balasore districts, two 60 seated motor launched have been provided at Balimela Reservoir for the communication of cut-off area tribal people. Funding to different schools of the state under ‘Mo School Abhijan’ and financial assistance to different collages, help in development of stadium at Junagarh etc. have been provided through CSR Scheme. OHPC has spent more than Rs. 40 Crores in CSR activities.

OHPC is planning to install three pumped storage power plants with the proposed total capacity of 1420 MW at Upper Indravati (600MW), Upper Kolab (320 MW) and Balimela (500 MW) in the vicinity of the existing high head hydro-electric power stations. Feasibility studies have been undertaken for these sites and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for above three projects are under progress with Upper Indravati Project in an advanced stage.

Further OHPC is also taking up the responsibility of preparation of the DPR for hydroelectric project with the capacity of 63 MW on river Khadag in Kandhamal district and on river Salki in Boudh district with tentative capacity of 44 MW. DPR preparation is under progress.

GEDCOL the wholly owned subsidiary of OHPC, is also the planning for installing floating solar energy generation on a large scale in reservoirs of its hydro power houses. GEDCOL in joint venture with NHPC is setting up a 300MW floating solar power plant in Rengali Reservoir of Angul district to help Odisha meet its renewable energy obligation.

OHPC has always given prime importance to observance of latest safety regulations by upgrading and updating all its assets with implementation of latest technological advancements in the field of safety thereby minimizing the risk occurrence of accidents.

The safety model of OHPC primarily focuses on three key points i.e., Recognizing, Evaluating and Controlling the Hazards. The dedicated safety guide lines along with standard operating procedure (SOP) and disaster management plan is quite effective in providing a safe workplace, minimizing health hazards and creating a healthy environment in OHPC.

During its journey OHPC has bagged prestigious awards like Excellence Award from the Institute of Economic Studies during the year 2012, Kalinga Safety Excellence Award in Gold Category for the year 2018 by Institute of Quality & Environmental Management Services, Kalinga Safety Excellence Award in Platinum & Gold Category for the year 2020 by Institute of Quality & Environmental Management Services, State Level Electrical Safety Award 2022 for Best Electrical Safety Practices in FY 2021-22.

There is zero man-day loss due to cordial industrial relation in all our projects. All grievances received through e-Abhijoga have been complied. Strict observance & compliance of Covid-19 guidelines in all the Units and Corporate Office has been followed.

The journey of OHPC during these 27 years towards becoming a leading power utility in the energy sector through diversified energy portfolio with due care and concern to the environment has remained truly spectacular.

Bishnupada Sethi, IAS currently serves as the Principal Secretary of the Odisha Higher Education Department and also serves as the Chairman of OHPC Ltd.