Bhubaneswar: Odisha Coal and Power Limited (OCPL) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NTPC Limited at the Department of Energy for the sale of 3 million tonnes of surplus coal extracted from OCPL’s Manoharpur Coal Mine.
The agreement was executed in the presence of Shri Vishal Dev, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Energy and Chairman OCPL. The commercial arrangement is designed to optimize the utilization of state coal resources while strengthening fuel security for major power generation assets operated by NTPC.
Under the terms of the strategic partnership, the allocation of surplus fuel from the Manoharpur block in Sundargarh district will streamline primary supply chains and help balance regional power requirements. By routing domestic coal surplus directly to key public sector thermal units, the agreement supports operational efficiency, minimizes fuel transport logistics, and underscores broader efforts toward domestic resource optimization in India’s evolving energy sector.
Odisha Coal and Power Limited (OCPL) was incorporated on January 20, 2015, as a state public sector enterprise aimed at managing dedicated coal mining infrastructure for power generation in the state. Originally established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Odisha Power Generation Corporation Limited (OPGC), it later evolved into a joint venture entity where OPGC retains a majority 51 percent shareholding and the Government of Odisha holds the remaining 49 percent equity. The primary driver behind OCPL’s creation was to secure reliable, long-term raw fuel linkages for thermal power generation assets, particularly OPGC’s flagship Ib Thermal Power Station located in Jharsuguda.
The centerpiece of OCPL’s operations centers on two contiguous coal blocks in the Ib Valley coalfields of Sundargarh district, comprising the Manoharpur mine and the Dip-side of Manoharpur mine allocated by the Ministry of Coal. Commercial operations at the open-cast Manoharpur block officially began in late 2019, drawing from total estimated geological reserves of nearly 978 million tonnes across the site. The approved peak annual production capacity stands at up to 8 million tonnes, providing a significant source of high-grade domestic thermal coal for regional utility needs.
To support high-volume output, OCPL operates a robust logistics framework at the pithead, including a high-capacity Coal Handling Plant designed to process 4,000 tonnes of coal per hour. Fuel evacuation relies heavily on a dedicated Merry-Go-Round railway system that transports coal directly from the mine face to power generation stations, minimizing supply chain disruptions and transit losses. By fulfilling its core mandate of captive supply to OPGC while entering into commercial agreements to sell excess capacity to national entities like NTPC, OCPL has scaled its annual revenues past 1,000 crore rupees and established itself as a pivotal anchor in eastern India’s power supply architecture.