SJVN Completes 72-Hour Trial of 660 MW Buxar Unit-2 Ahead of Commercial Operation

State-owned power producer SJVN Limited has successfully completed the mandatory 72-hour trial run of the 660 MW Unit-2 of its 1,320 MW Buxar Thermal Power Project in Bihar, clearing one of the final major operational milestones before the unit enters commercial service.

The project, located at Chausa in Buxar district, consists of two supercritical generating units of 660 MW each and is being implemented by SJVN Thermal Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SJVN. With Unit-2 successfully completing its sustained trial operation, SJVN said it is now ready for the unit’s commercial operation.

SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Bhupender Gupta described the completion of the trial as an important achievement for the company and congratulated employees and other stakeholders involved in bringing the second generating unit to this stage. The company’s management said the milestone would further strengthen SJVN’s electricity-generation portfolio and its evolution from a predominantly hydropower producer into a diversified energy company.

1,320 MW Power Project for Bihar

The Buxar Thermal Power Project has a total installed capacity of 1,320 MW, comprising Unit-1 and Unit-2 of 660 MW each. The first 660 MW unit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 August 2025 and subsequently achieved commercial operation, establishing Buxar as SJVN’s first major operational venture into thermal power generation.

Once both units are fully operational, the Buxar plant is designed to generate approximately 9,828.72 million units of electricity annually. Under a long-term power purchase arrangement, 85% of the electricity generated by the project has been allocated to Bihar, making the plant an important addition to the state’s long-term power supply.

The project uses supercritical thermal technology, in which steam is produced at higher temperatures and pressures than in conventional subcritical plants. The technology improves thermal efficiency and can reduce the amount of coal required to generate each unit of electricity, thereby lowering emissions intensity relative to older coal-fired generating technology.

SJVN has stated that total investment in the project is approximately ₹13,756.56 crore. Coal for the plant is being secured through a long-term linkage with Coal India, while water requirements are met from the Ganga River. The power station also incorporates two large induced-draft cooling towers and associated railway infrastructure for transporting fuel to the project site.

Strengthening Bihar’s Power Supply

The importance of the Buxar project extends beyond the addition of 1,320 MW of generating capacity. Bihar has historically depended heavily on electricity supplied from generating stations outside the state. The allocation of 85% of Buxar’s output to Bihar provides the state with a substantial dedicated source of electricity and can strengthen supply during periods of high demand.

At the project’s designed annual generation of nearly 9.83 billion units, Buxar will become an important component of the electricity system serving Bihar and the wider eastern region. SJVN expects the plant to help reduce peak-hour shortages while improving overall energy security.

Construction of the power station has also created a sizeable local economic footprint. SJVN has said that around 5,000 workers were engaged annually during the construction phase, while demand generated by the project supported local transport operators, hotels, markets and small businesses around Buxar. Employment and associated economic activity are expected to continue as the plant transitions from construction into full operation.

The foundation stone for the project was laid on 9 March 2019, following investment approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs. Its development has involved construction of the main generating plant, coal-handling and water systems, transmission infrastructure and a dedicated railway connection required to support large-scale coal deliveries.

The successful 72-hour trial of Unit-2 therefore represents more than a routine testing milestone. With the first unit already operational, the completion of sustained full-load testing of the second 660 MW machine brings SJVN’s entire 1,320 MW Buxar Thermal Power Project to the threshold of full commercial operation, significantly expanding the company’s generating portfolio while adding a major new source of electricity for Bihar.