Bidding for the Orissa ultra mega power project is set to close on August 1st after bids were invited in June of last year and the deadline for bidding was extended six times.

The Orissa ultra mega power project is one of nine 4,000 megawatt capacity coal-fired plants being built across the country to expand access to electricity.

The 4,000 megawatt project is one of three being constructed within Orissa. The Orissa ultra mega power project was initiated by the Union government, along with two smaller 1320 megawatt capacity power plants are being built by Orissa Power Generation Corporation. As well, an additional 1600 megawatt power plant has been proposed by NTPC Ltd. for Orissa.

The Orissa ultra mega power project was forced to extend its bidding deadline 6 times because of delays in receiving approval from the Indian Environment Ministry for the project’s coal blocks.

All of the power units that are being constructed in Orissa have been allocated six coal blocks, five of which are located in the Ib Valley coalfield, which is in densely forested areas where mining is typically prohibited.

However, the ministry has been under pressure to make exceptions in order to meet growing demands for coal.

According to a release, the ministry has approved mining, which will allow the bidding process to soon be completed.