The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) granted its approval to set up a 1,980 MW thermal power project at Ghatampur in Uttar Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 17,237.80 crore  including interest during construction component of Rs 3,202.42 crore.

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for installation of Ghatampur Thermal Power Project (GTPS) of 1,980 MW (3 X 660 MW) capacity through a joint venture company named Neyveli Uttar Pradesh Power Ltd formed jointly by Neyveli Lignite Corporation and Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam.

• According to the statement, the commissioning of units 1, 2 and 3 will be after 52, 58 and 64 months from the starting date, respectively.

• The energy generated by GTPS, which is about 14,000 MU per annum, will be mainly supplied to Uttar Pradesh,the benefits of this generation will be available in the 13th Five-Year Plan.

• The Coal Ministry had allotted Pachwara south coal block in Jharkhand for meeting coal requirements of the project.

• The CCEA also cleared the proposal of Ambuja Cements to acquire 24 per cent stake in its holding firm Holcim India, a move that will allow its parent Swiss giant LafargeHolcim to strengthen its India footprint. In the proposal cleared by the CCEA, the firms had sought a “subsequent reverse merger through a share swap”, which would entail outflow of Rs 3,500 crore.