A view of the NTPC-TNEB Power Plant at Ennore, in Chennai
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Coal Ministry’s Standing Linkage Committee (Long-Term), SLC (LT), for the power sector will review on Tuesday Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation’s (TNPGCL) request for extension of coal linkage for the Ennore Thermal Power Station (ETPS) expansion project for a year.The TNPGCL, through a letter on June 30, 2026, requested the high level panel for extension of coal linkage under the revised SHAKTI policy for ETPS expansion project for one year, as validity of the coal linkage is up to August 7 this year, the Coal Ministry said.The state government’s power generation arm informed the panel that the due date for the tender floated for procurement of power from the ETP project has been extended from May 20 this year to July 15, it added.Besides, TNPGCL also informed that the coal linkage extension is due to delay in the decision on a pre-bid query relating to the project completion timeline, which is based on the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board’s (TNIDB) suggestion/ decision. “In this regard, TNIDB has informed TNPGCL that a decision on the aforesaid pre-bid query pertaining to the project completion timeline could be taken only in consultation with the state government by the TNIDB, consequent upon the formation of the new government in Tamil Nadu,” the Ministry said.TNPGCL has stated that as the due date of tender opening is extended to July 15, and the successful bidder will be identified thereafter, it added.The said coal linkage for Tamil Nadu was earmarked by the SLC (LT) in its July 29, 2025 meeting from Coal India (CIL) for a capacity of 660 megawatt (MW).While earmarking the linkage, the panel had recommended that the successful bidder shall be identified by the state within a year from the date of earmarking of the coal linkage, failing which the earmarked linkage may lapse.I’Published on August 11, 2026
