Key Highlights
- India’s 1,600‑MW Godda plant will now feed both Bangladesh and the domestic grid.
- Connection to the national grid is achieved through a Line‑In Line‑Out (LILO) scheme on the Kahalgaon–Maithon 400 kV corridor.
- The approval, valid for 25 years, follows amendments to cross‑border trade guidelines and grid‑access regulations.
Detailed Insights
The Godda Ultra Super Critical Thermal Plant, commissioned by Adani Power Limited, originally exported electricity exclusively to Bangladesh under a long‑term contract. In 2025 the government sanctioned a LILO arrangement, allowing the plant to interlace its output with India’s national transmission network on the Kahalgaon‑Maithon 400 kV line. The decision expands coverage to 56 villages across Godda and Poreyahat tehsils and mandates clearance from an array of authorities including Railways, Civil Aviation, Defence, and environmental agencies.
From a strategic standpoint, the move adds 1,600 MW to India’s domestic capacity, mitigates risk by reducing exposure to foreign demand, and sets a precedent for integrating export‑oriented plants into the Inter‑State Transmission System (ISTS). Policy adjustments encompassed revisions by the Ministry of Power, the Central Electricity Authority, and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, particularly in the General Network Access and ISTS regimes.
The LILO arrangement, authorised under Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003, confers transmission‑line laying rights akin to those under the Telegraph Act, 1885, ensuring a streamlined legal framework for cross‑border infrastructure.
Key Concepts
- Line‑In Line‑Out (LILO) – A transmission mode that permits a power plant to connect simultaneously to a foreign grid and the domestic system, facilitating bidirectional flow.
- Ultra Supercritical Technology – Coal‑firing technology operating at elevated temperatures and pressures to achieve higher thermal efficiency and lower emissions.
- Inter‑State Transmission System (ISTS) – India’s national grid that interlinks state‑level transmission networks, enabling power exchange across states.
- Section 164 of the Electricity Act, 2003 – Provisions that allow the Ministry of Power to grant transmission line rights comparable to telecommunications regulations.