For National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), it was another year of satisfying performance. The Corporation achieved new milestones in turnover, profit and generation of power and impressively progressed in engineering, environment management and human resource development too.

NTPC touched a turnover of Rs. 17184 crore during 1999-00- an increase of 19.6% over last year's turnover of Rs. 14372 crore. The net profit after tax has increased from Rs. 2815.73 crore during 1998-99 to Rs. 3424.53 crore in 1999-00 -- an increase of 21.62%.

The return on capital employed and return on networth increased from 13.37% and 14.13% in 1998-99 to 13.86% and 14.97% respectively in 1999-00.

The company improved its ranking in Asiaweek's survey of the top 1000 companies of the Asia-Pacific Region (including Japan). In terms of sales and profit NTPC's ranking has improved from 344th to 299th and 40th to 31st respectively in comparison to last year.

NTPC declared a total dividend of Rs.650 crore for the financial year ended 1999-00, out of which an interim dividend of Rs.300 crore has been paid.

With a total capacity of 19435, MW, which is around 20% of total installed capacity in the country, NTPC in the year under reference contributed 25% of all India's total generation. The generation of power by the company has gone up to 1,18,676 Million Units (MUs) of electricity during 1999-00.

NTPC coal stations achieve a Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 80.4% (against a National Average PLF of 67.3%) and availability factor of 90.06%. The combined PLF of stations at Northern, Southern and Western Region during the year was 89.6%. However, inadequate demand in eastern region led to continual backing down of stations and resulted in a lower PLF of 54.3% in that region.

In 1999-00, seven stations namely Dadri (coal), Singrauli, Ramagundam, Vindhyachal, Rihand, Korba and Unchahar achieved a PLF of more than 85%. Dadri coal registered a PLF of 96.1% the highest in the country.

For the period from April to August, 2000, five NTPC stations namely Singrauli, Dadri (coal), Badarpur, Ramagundam, and Korba are among the top ten performing stations in the country.

As per the survey, based on 1998 data, carried out by Datamonitor UK, NTPC is the 6th largest in terms of thermal generation and the second most efficient in terms of capacity utilisation amongst the top 10 utilities.

The position of receivables continued to be an area of serious concern. The total outstanding dues including a surcharge of Rs.4682.87 crore stood at Rs. 12791.22 crore as on March 31,2000. The total realisation including central appropriation was about 87% in 1999-00. The total outstanding as on August 31, 2000 is Rs.15310.92 crore.

Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has notified vide order dated January 4, 2000 the implementation of ABT for central power generating utilities. The scheme notified will have serious implications and will hamper the capacity addition programme of NTPC by affecting the internal resource generation.

NTPC has filed a review petition with the CERC and also appealed to the Delhi High Court against the Availability Based Tariff Order. The CERC has since stayed the implementation of ABT.

The total approved investment of NTPC as on 31.03.2000 was Rs.44703.17 crore corresponding to an approved capacity of 22,935 MW.

The Authorised Share Capital of NTPC remained unchanged at Rs.8000 crore during 1999-2000.

NTPC has funds committed for over Rs. 7000 crore from various domestic Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions for participating in the capacity addition programme.

NTPC continued to accept deposits from public in terms of the provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. The total deposits, as on end March 2000, stood at Rs.325.26 crore.

During the year NTPC has utilised Rs. 639.16 crore from external borrowings taken from various sources. The cumulative utilisation in respect of foreign loans was Rs. 16,577.67 crore upto 31st March 2000.

NTPC remains the single largest coal user in the Indian Power Sector with the consumption of 70.57 MTs (including Badarpur 3.53 and Balco 1.70 MT) during the year 1999-2000.

Gas supply to operating gas stations along the HBJ line during 1999-2000 registered an increase and gas receipt was 10.50 MCMD (excluding 1.11 MCMD for Faridabad Gas) as compared to last year's supply of 9.96 MCMD, registering an increase of 5.42%. However, Gandhar Project continued to suffer from inadequate gas supply resulting in total loss of generation to the tune of 2732 MUs which was marginally lower than previous year's 3197 MUs.

During 1999-2000, 1116 MW was commissioned ahead of schedule. This included Vindhyachal Unit VIII (500 MW), Unchahar Unit IV (210 MW) and Faridabad gas turbines I and II 143 MW, each, all ahead of schedule. On 31.07.2000 the combined cycle (ST) of Faridabad Gas Project (144 MW) was also commissioned ahead of schedule.

NTPC would add 3140 MW in IX Plan (including 440 MW Tanda taken over from UP).

With a view to achieve a capacity of 40000 MW by the year 2012, NTPC has formulated an ambitious capacity addition programme. Projects with a capacity of 3000 MW namely, Simhadri (2 X 500 MW) and Talcher Kaniha (4 X 500 MW) are already under implementation. 1500 MW capacity at Ramagundam-III (3 X 500 MW) and Rihand-II (2 X 500 MW) is under bidding stage. CEA's techno-economic clearance has been obtained for 1980 MW (3 X 660 MW) Sipat project and action has been initiated for procurement of main plant equipment. In addition, infrastructure activities have been taken up for 800 MW Koldam Hydro Power Project. Feasibility reports for four projects (namely, Kahalgaon-II, Barh, Vindhyachal-III and Sipat-II) with a total capacity of 4960 MW have been submitted to CEA of techno-economic clearance. Further, proposals of new projects with a capacity of approximately 5000 MW are presently under formulation.

In addition to Koldam project, NTPC is in the process of identifying suitable sites for setting up/taking over hydro projects in different states.

JOINT VENTURES
UTILITY POWERTECH LTD. (UPL)
During the year 1999-2000, UPL has received orders for approximately Rs. 52 crore. In this year, the company has also paid its maiden dividend @ 10% on the paid up capital.

NTPC-ABB ALSTOM POWER SERVICES LTD. (NASL)
NTPC has formed a Joint Venture Company with ABB KRAFTWERKE AG, under the name of "NTPC-ABB ALSTOM POWER SERVICES LIMITED", (NASL) for taking up renovation and modernisation assignments of Power Plant both in India and SAARC countries. The company has started functioning and has already secured some assignments with order value of approximately Rs.10 crore under competitive bidding.

JOINT VENTURE FOR SETTING UP LNG BASED TERMINALS GUJARAT PIPAVAV LNG LTD.
* NTPC has signed an MOU with Sea King infrastructure Limited, British Gas and Gujarat Pipavav
  LNG Ltd. for equity participation to the extent of 26% in the Joint Venture Company, Gujarat
  Pipavav LNG Limited (GPLNG). GPLNG shall be developing an LNG regassification terminal at
  Pipavav. The regassified LNG is likely to serve NTPC's gas requirements for its expansion
  units of 650 MW each at Kawas and Gandhar.
* PETRONET LNG LTD.
  NTPC has also signed an MOU with Petronet LNG Limited (Petronet) for acquiring 10% of its
  equity. Petronet is presently developing LNG regassification terminal at Dahej. The
  regassified LNG from this terminal is likely to serve NTPC's gas requirements for its
  expansion units of 650 MW each at Anta and Aurayia.

CONSULTANCY SERVICES
During the year the consultancy wing has secured 18 orders valued at Rs. 37.09 crore. The total earnings and the net profit of the division during the year is Rs. 12.03 crore and Rs. 6.10 crore respectively.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Super Critical Units
With the thrust on improvement in efficiency and introduction of environmental friendly technology, NTPC has decided to go for super critical parameters in future. To take advantage of economy of size, NTPC has also decided to adopt super critical 660 MW units for future power plants in Sipat, Kahalgaon-II, North Karanpura and Barh.

ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT
Till date NTPC has planted approximately 14 million trees at its different projects. NTPC stations have received a number of prestigious Environmental Awards and many stations have been accredited with ISO-14001 Certification.

ASH UTILISATION
During the year 1999-2000, 27.0 lac tonnes of ash has been utilised for various productive purposes.

Feasibility study has been done under USAID programme for haul back from Singrauli to Gorbi mines. Ash from Badarpur Ash Pond is being used in Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.'s project for land filling and embankment purposes.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The total strength of employees of the corporation stands at 24024 as on 31.03.2000 as against 23630 as on 31.03.1999. The overall Man-MW ratio for the year 1999-2000 including the recently taken over Tanda Project was 1.10.

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Industrial Relations scenario in NTPC was cordial and harmonious. All employees had regular interaction with the management both, through their Associations/Unions and also individually.

AWARDS
NTPC has been winning the Prime Minister's prestigious Shram Awards 2000 for 15 years in succession. Shri R P P Nair of Korba project is the second NTPC employee to win the highest Prime Minister's Shram award-the Shram Ratna. Shri Dilip Krishnan of Singrauli Project bagged the same award last year.

Under the Meritorious Productivity Award Scheme of the Government of India eleven stations were selected for better performance for the year 1997-98. Besides, nine stations were selected for reduction in Specific oil consumption and five stations were selected for reduction in Auxiliary power consumption for the year 1997.

Eleven NTPC stations have received "Safety Awards" for the year 1999 from British Safety Council.