NTPC Ltd.

On the back of non-availability of fuel, State-controlled National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has stopped expansion of its gas-based projects -- Kayamkulam, Ramagundam, Kawas and Gandhar.

The move follows a sharp drop in output at what was supposed to be India’s largest gas field, KG-D6 of Reliance Industries. Production at KG-D6 has dropped 40% in 2011 to about 35 million standard cubic meters per day and is likely to dip further. The reduction, instead of a projected rise in output to 80 mmscmd from KG-D6 by now, has led to shortage of fuel with consumers including power generation units.

At present, the company operates seven gas-based projects in the country --  413 MW Anta (Rajasthan), 652 MW Auraiya (Uttar Pradesh), 645 MW Kawas (Gujarat), 817 MW Dadri (Uttar Pradesh), 648 MW Jhanor-Gandhar (Gujarat), 350 MW Kayamkulam (Kerala) and 430 MW Faridabad (Haryana)-- with a total capacity of 3,955 MW.