Sustainable Biomass Energy
NTPC & DVC Biomass Co-firing in West Bengal: Mejia, Durgapur & Dumdumi Supply Guide
A complete guide for biomass pellet suppliers and industrial buyers on NTPC and DVC co-firing requirements in West Bengal — covering Mejia TPS, Durgapur Steel TPS, and Dumdumi RTPP procurement specs and process.
West Bengal is one of India's most important biomass co-firing markets — home to three major power stations that are actively procuring agro-residue pellets under the Government of India's mandatory biomass co-firing policy. Yet most pellet suppliers in Eastern India don't fully understand how the procurement system works or how to participate.
This guide explains the policy, the specific West Bengal plants, the exact specifications required, and what both suppliers and industrial buyers need to know.
The Government Mandate: What It Means
The Ministry of Power issued a revised Biomass Policy in October 2021, mandating all coal-based thermal power plants to co-fire biomass pellets:
- FY 2024-25: 5% biomass co-firing (mandatory)
- FY 2025-26: 7% biomass co-firing
- FY 2027-28: 10% biomass co-firing target
At 10% co-firing, India's coal plants will need 15–20 million tonnes of biomass pellets per year. Current national production is only ~2.5 million tonnes. The supply gap is the single largest business opportunity in India's biomass sector right now.
West Bengal's Three Key Co-firing Plants
The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), which operates power stations across West Bengal and Jharkhand, is procuring biomass pellets through competitive tenders. Three stations in West Bengal have active procurement:
| Power Station | Location | Annual Procurement |
|---|---|---|
| Mejia Thermal Power Station | Bankura, West Bengal | 51,100 MT/year |
| Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station | Andal, Bardhaman, West Bengal | 51,100 MT/year |
| Dumdumi RTPP | Purulia, West Bengal | 51,100 MT/year |
Combined, these three stations represent 153,300 MT per year of biomass pellet demand — all within 250 km of Kharagpur. This is one of the most concentrated procurement zones in India, and it overwhelmingly favours local Eastern India suppliers on logistics cost alone.
Technical Specifications Required
DVC and NTPC follow CEA (Central Electricity Authority) biomass pellet specifications. Suppliers must meet all of the following:
| Parameter | Minimum Requirement | Our Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Calorific Value (GCV) | ≥ 3,000 kcal/kg | 3,800–4,200 kcal/kg |
| Moisture Content | ≤ 14% | <10% |
| Ash Content | ≤ 10% | <5% |
| Pellet Diameter | 6–8 mm (standard) or 10–12 mm | 6–8 mm |
| Bulk Density | ≥ 600 kg/m³ | ≥ 650 kg/m³ |
| Sulphur Content | ≤ 0.5% | <0.3% |
| Chlorine Content | ≤ 0.1% | <0.05% |
| Origin | 100% domestic (Make in India) | 100% agro-waste, Eastern India |
Important: DVC explicitly prohibits imported raw materials in its tender conditions. All biomass must be sourced from Indian agricultural waste — which is our entire supply chain.
How the Tender Process Works
DVC and NTPC follow a standard tender process for biomass pellet procurement:
- Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) — published on ntpctender.ntpc.co.in and the DVC portal. Tenders are typically issued quarterly.
- Supplier Eligibility — must be a Class 1 Local Supplier; MSE suppliers get purchase preference under Make in India policy
- Technical Bid — submit test certificates (lab reports for GCV, moisture, ash) from a NABL-accredited laboratory
- Price Bid — quoted on a FOR (Free on Rail/Road) basis to the power station gate
- Sample Inspection — winning bidders typically supply a 5–10 MT sample for plant-level testing before full-volume orders begin
- Supply Schedule — deliveries are typically monthly, in 20–24 MT truck loads, with staggered unloading slots
Why Location Matters More Than Price
For DVC's West Bengal plants, transport cost is a dominant factor. A supplier in Punjab pays ₹2,500–₹3,500/MT in freight to deliver to Mejia or Durgapur. A Kharagpur-based manufacturer pays ₹400–₹800/MT. Even if the Punjab price is ₹1,000/MT lower at the gate, the logistics math heavily favours local supply.
This is one of the key reasons Eastern India manufacturers have a structural competitive advantage in DVC tenders — and why this procurement opportunity belongs to local suppliers.
What Industrial Buyers Should Know
If you operate an industrial boiler in West Bengal and you're considering biomass co-firing, here is what you need to know:
- Stoker and CFBC boilers accept biomass pellets with minimal modification; BFB (bubbling fluidised bed) boilers may need feed system adjustments
- You can co-fire at 5–30% biomass substitution without significant boiler modification in most industrial installations
- At 20% biomass substitution with coal at ₹8,000/MT and pellets at ₹10,000/MT, you still reduce your fuel cost by ~8% on a heat basis due to coal's lower GCV
- Government carbon credit benefits are available for industrial co-firing under India's carbon market framework
Next Steps for Suppliers and Buyers
If you are a pellet supplier looking to tender for DVC or NTPC contracts in West Bengal, or an industrial buyer evaluating biomass co-firing at your facility, we are happy to share our experience and assist with technical documentation.
We supply biomass pellets in Eastern India and have direct experience with the DVC tender process and NTPC specification requirements. Contact us to discuss your specific requirement.
Get a Quote from Rashmi 6 Paradigm
We supply bio pellets, activated carbon, and charcoal briquettes from our facility in Kharagpur, West Bengal. Fast response, bulk pricing, and pan-India delivery.