State-run power producer NTPC Ltd. announced on Saturday, July 11 that its board has approved an investment of ₹20,456.70 crore for the Lara Super Thermal Power Project, Stage-III, in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district. According to the company's official stock filing, the Board of Directors approved the investment proposal for the 2x800 MW expansion, taking the total capacity addition under the project to 1,600 MW. This strategic investment comes as India continues to witness a steady rise in power consumption, driven by economic growth, rapid urbanisation, expanding industrial activity and increasing demand during peak summer months. The Lara Super Thermal Power Station is strategically located in Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district, with the proposed Stage-III expansion adding two 800 MW units to strengthen the country's thermal power generation capacity.
As reported by PTI, earlier on June 5, NTPC had sought bids from technology solutions players to help its sub-critical thermal power units operate at lower load and ensure flexibility for the electricity distribution network. The project would require providing technical support to sub-critical thermal units ranging between 150 MW and 250 MW, enabling them to operate in two shifts and at a minimum technical load of 25%. Through this initiative, NTPC aims to identify technology providers for developing highly flexible thermal generation solutions, reinforcing its commitment to grid reliability, stability, and India's evolving energy transition needs. According to Moneycontrol, sub-critical thermal units offer greater flexibility compared to supercritical and ultra-supercritical technologies for certain grid-balancing requirements because of less parameter swings and hence low fatigue. Their ability to operate efficiently at lower loads and adapt to frequent cycling makes them a potential enabler for higher renewable energy integration in the future.
According to latest reports, NTPC posted a consolidated net profit of ₹10,614.95 crore during the March quarter (Q4 FY26), representing an over 34% jump compared to ₹7,897.14 crore in the same quarter of the previous year. The company's consolidated net profit for FY26 rose by 15% to ₹27,546 crore, up from ₹23,953 crore in FY25. However, total income fell to ₹50,410.58 crore in Q4 FY26 from ₹51,085.05 crore seen in Q4 FY25. The strong performance was bolstered by a 29% increase in the share of joint venture profits, which reached ₹2,864 crore. Subsidiaries also earned a profit of ₹3,312 crore for FY26, while NTPC's coal plants achieved a Plant Load Factor of 72.04% during FY26, significantly outperforming the Rest of India Coal PLF of 63.20%.
As reported by CNBC TV18, the shares of NTPC closed at ₹345.05 on the NSE on Friday, July 10, up 0.39%, or ₹1.35, from the previous close. The stock movement reflects investor confidence following the company's strong quarterly performance and continued expansion plans in thermal power generation. NTPC, India's largest power generation company, is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy across thermal, renewable and hydro power projects as the country works towards ensuring energy security while simultaneously increasing the share of clean energy in its overall power mix. The board has also approved a final interim dividend of ₹3.5 per equity share for FY26, demonstrating the company's commitment to returning value to shareholders.
