India reviews power sector cooperation with Sri Lanka and Bhutan

Bilateral review with Sri Lanka

India reviewed bilateral cooperation in the power sector with Sri Lanka, with talks focusing on the progress of the proposed India-Sri Lanka high voltage direct current (HVDC) interconnection.

The discussions also addressed the Sampur Solar Power Project and broader arrangements for cross-border electricity trade, renewable energy, transmission infrastructure, and capacity building.

Hydropower and transmission connectivity with Bhutan

India also reviewed cooperation with Bhutan in hydropower development and cross-border electricity trade, alongside transmission connectivity, renewable energy, and institutional cooperation.

The review included discussion of key hydropower projects such as Punatsangchhu-I, Punatsangchhu-II, Sankosh, and Chukha, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation through continued dialogue and timely implementation of mutually beneficial initiatives.

NTPC Green Energy Limited secures part of WBSEDCL standalone BESS tender

NTPC Green Energy Limited (NGEL), a subsidiary of NTPC Limited, has secured 200 MW/800 MWh of standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity in West Bengal. The award was based on a discovered tariff of Rs 435,000 per MW per month, following an e-reverse auction process.

The tender, conducted by West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL), covers the development of 500 MW/2,000 MWh of standalone BESS capacity in West Bengal. Procurement is described as tariff-based competitive bidding, with NGEL winning a portion of the overall capacity offered under the tender.

From a supply-chain perspective, the procurement structure centers on tariff discovery through a competitive e-reverse mechanism and a defined, MW/MWh scope for standalone storage capacity. Such specifications can influence downstream equipment sourcing and delivery planning tied to the project’s capacity and duration-related tariff terms.

Changjiang Unit 4 control room brought into operation; Phase II units 3 and 4 nearing commissioning timeline

Unit 4 commissioning milestone

A ceremony on 31 July marked the launch of operation of the main control room for Changjiang unit 4, according to China National Nuclear Corporation, which said it “marked a new stage in the commissioning and operation of unit 4.” The ceremony also referenced full commencement of operation and duty shifts in the main control room as an important milestone tied to project construction efforts across multiple participants and company departments.

Changjiang Phase II includes two Hualong One reactors, with unit 3 and unit 4 moving through civil works and commissioning steps that now include the control-room operating phase.

Construction status and commissioning progress for Phase II

First concrete for the unit 3 nuclear island base slab was poured in March 2021, followed by the unit 4 base slab in December 2021.

Changjiang unit 3 reached first criticality on 10 July and was connected to the grid on 1 August. Both Phase II units are scheduled to be fully operational in early 2027.

The Changjiang Phase II - units 3 and 4 - project is described as representing a total estimated investment of CNY40 billion (USD5.9 billion), with China Huaneng holding a 51% share in the project.

SMR work at the same site

Beyond the Phase II Hualong One units, the Changjiang nuclear site is also home to two operating CNP-600 pressurised water reactors, Changjiang 1 and 2, which entered commercial operation in 2015 and 2016.

In 2021, China National Nuclear Corporation began construction of a demonstration ACP100 small modular reactor at the site. The multi-purpose 125 MWe pressurised water design—also referred to as the Linglong One—covers electricity generation as well as heating, steam production, or seawater desalination, and it is currently undergoing pre-commissioning tests.