After US prosecutors charged Adani Group chairman Gautam S Adani and seven others with allegedly bribing Indian government officials, Bangladesh has decided to hire a legal and investigative firm to help review key power generation contracts, including the one with Adani Power. This review could lead to changes or even cancellations of some contracts, officials told The Indian Express on Sunday. In a statement, the Bangladesh government said that the National Review Committee, which is part of the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, has asked the interim government to hire the firm to assist with the review of important power contracts made during Sheikh Hasina’s leadership from 2009 to 2024.
The committee is currently investigating several contracts, including the Adani (Godda) coal-fired power plant (1234.4 MW), as well as other plants in Payra (1320 MW coal), Bashkhali (612 MW coal), Ashuganj (195 MW gas), Meghnaghat (583 MW dual fuel), Meghnaghat (335 MW dual fuel), and Meghnaghat (584 MW gas/RLNG).
Adani Power Limited is one of India’s leading private sector thermal power producer, boasting an installed capacity of 15,250 MW, according to its webiste. The company operates nine power plants strategically located across multiple states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand, contributing significantly to the country’s energy infrastructure.
Adani Power Plants
Adani Power made history by successfully synchronising India’s first super-critical 660MW generating unit at Mundra. This marked the country’s inaugural super-critical unit. The Mundra power project is also recognized for its unprecedented speed, with the entire process—from inception to synchronization—being completed in just 36 months, setting a record for the fastest implementation by any power developer in India. On the other hand, Adani Power Maharashtra Limited operates the largest coal-based thermal power plant in Maharashtra, India, with a total generation capacity of 3300 MW across five units, each rated at 660 MW. The Tiroda plant utilises advanced environmental management technologies and is registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) by the UNFCCC. All units at the plant employ Supercritical Technology, enhancing the efficiency of coal-based power generation.
Also, Adani Power Rajasthan Limited is the largest single-location power plant in Rajasthan, with a generation capacity of 1320 MW (2X660 MW). This coal-based thermal power plant also utilises advanced supercritical technology for efficient power generation. Strategically located in the village of Kawai, Atru Tehsil, in Baran district, Rajasthan, the plant is equipped with a 1500-meter long airstrip for easy connectivity. It also incorporates state-of-the-art environmental management technologies to minimize its ecological footprint.
Adani’s other coal-based power plants also showcase state-of-the-art infrastructure including the ones in Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand.
In November 2017, Adani Power (Jharkhand) Ltd (APJL) had signed a 25-year agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board to supply 1,496 MW of electricity from its Godda plant, reported IE. Under the agreement, Bangladesh agreed to purchase all the electricity produced by the plant. The Godda plant, which uses 100% imported coal, was designated as a Special Economic Zone by the Indian government in March 2019. The plant became fully operational between April and June 2023 and now supplies 7-10% of Bangladesh’s base load. In 2023-24, it exported about 7,508 million units of electricity, accounting for nearly 63% of India’s total power exports to Bangladesh, which was 11,934 million units.
In terms of value, India’s power exports to Bangladesh exceeded $1 billion, making up about 10% of India’s total exports to the country.
Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, the new government led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake has not yet made a final decision regarding the Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL) wind power project in Mannar and Pooneryn, as well as other ongoing investments. Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) spokesperson Eng. Dhanushka Parakramasinghe told The Sunday Morning that while the proposal is still under review, no final decision has been made. He added that the wind power project proposal will be presented to the Cabinet for further discussion in the coming weeks.