Expansion of TNPL unit II to begin next year

Civil works for capacity addition at the Greenfield unit of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) at Mondipatti in Manapparai taluk is expected to begin during April-May next year.

The company is in the process of securing approval for the Mill Expansion Plan (MEP) project. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has already given its nod for the capacity addition, according to an official source.

TNPL has contemplated expansion of Unit II at Mondipatti at a total cost of Rs. 2,100 crore by adding a printing and writing paper machine along with a new chemical hard wood pulp mill, chemical recovery, power plant and utilities.

Unit II, commissioned during January 2016, has a capacity to manufacture 2,00,000 metric tonnes of multi-layer coated boards per annum.

The proposals covered under MEP includes addition of one new printing and writing machine with capacity to manufacture 1,65,000 tonnes per annum, and increasing the captive power generation capacity from 30 MW to 80 MW.

Since Unit II has a total land area of 874.46 acres, about 100 acres of available free space is to be used for the project facilities.

Out of the total investment, Rs. 200 crore will be utilised for installation of pollution control equipment and implementation of environmental pollution control measures.

The project has been projected to create direct employment to about 400 persons and indirect employment to about 1,000 persons in industries and service organisations and material handling.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report states that the project will have significant beneficial effects in terms of growth and development of the regional economy.

It will pave way for additional growth of ancillary industries in the region, which will not only increase the employment potential but also further strengthen the economic base of the region, the EIA report states.