Chennai: Thermal power major National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has commissioned feasibility study for setting up a 1000 MW power plant at Ennore in Chennai.

According to K Sankaralingam, director, projects, studies have been commissioned to look at the viable fuel and transportation options.

The corporation will decide between coal, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and piped gas from Krishna-Godavari basin after taking into account different aspects of the project.

A 50:50 joint venture company, NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Limited has been floated for the project partnering with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

According to Sankaralingam, after the feasibility studies — fuel option by Crisil and transportation by RITES — the company would take around nine months to get the financial sanction and after that the plant will be set up in 38 months.

Meanwhile NTPC, the country''s largest power generating company is holding road shows for its maiden public issue. The premium public issue is of 86,58,30,000 of Rs10 each for cash consisting of a fresh issue of 43,29,15,000 shares and an offer of sale of 43,29,15,000 equity shares of Rs10 each.

The price band for the issue is fixed at Rs52 to Rs62 under the book building process.

The company plans to double its capacity to become a 40,000 mw company by 2012 and add 9,370 mw in the 10^th plan of which 2,000 mw has already been commissioned. Further projects totalling 8,490 mw are under implementation and capacity of 5,080 mw is under tendering.

The funds raised through the public issue will be used mainly to fund the equity component of the expansion programme.

Presently NTPC''s installed capacity is 21,435 mw through 13 coal fired and 7 gas fired power stations. The company also operates 314 mw of capacity through three joint venture projects and manages 705 mw power station owned by the government.