State-owned NLC India Limited has signed memorandums of understanding with Odisha's investment agency IPICOL for a package of projects led by a 3,200 MW ultra-supercritical coal power plant involving a potential investment of Rs 35,000 crore — yaani about Rs 350 billion — the company said. The Hindu BusinessLine, reporting Reuters, and The Hindu both carried the announcement.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine (Reuters)

The proposed plant would have four units of 800 MW each. NLC estimates the power project could create about 4,000 jobs. The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and NLC Chairman and Managing Director Prasanna Kumar Acharya, according to The Hindu's report.

Source: The Hindu via TechWord News

Two companion projects are part of the package. NLC will explore the technical feasibility of coal gasification and producing synthesis gas for use in the fertiliser sector, for which no investment figure was disclosed. A separate beach sand mineral processing facility carries a tentative investment of Rs 2,000 crore — yaani Rs 20 billion — and is expected to create about 500 jobs.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine (Reuters)

Beach sand minerals such as ilmenite, rutile and zircon are used in pigments, ceramics, aerospace and titanium-based products. The agreements are MoUs to pursue the projects, not a final investment decision, and the company has not announced a construction timetable.

Source: The Hindu BusinessLine (Reuters)

The move marks a significant commitment to coal-based infrastructure as electricity demand surges, even as pressure grows globally to shift toward cleaner energy, Reuters noted in the BusinessLine report.