It is reported that NTPC which will launch its follow on public offer on February 3rd 2010 plans to more than double its generating capacity to over 70,000 MW by 2017 from 30,644 MW now.

A senior company official said that we plan to add 6,000 MW of generation capacity annually during 2013 to 2017. Officials said that the company would add 8000 MW by the end of the Eleventh Five Year Plan while 18 projects of 17,930 MW are under construction at 16 locations.

Analysts said that there was certainly a ready market for such capacity but the issues for NTPC would be timely execution and a sufficient supply of fuel such as coal and natural gas.

Officials said that the state owned PSU was looking at importing coal directly from the next financial year instead of routing it through agencies such as MMTC India Limited. It is also considering stake buys in coal mines abroad including Australia, Indonesia and South Africa.

A company said statement that the follow on public offer would close on February 5th 2010. The minimum bid lot and the floor price will be decided a day before the opening of the offer. The government is divesting 5% stake in NTPC through the follow on offer which is expected to fetch about INR 11,000 crore.

(Sourced from Telegraphindia.com)