Adani Power Ltd. (APL), the country’s largest private sector thermal power generator, has been awarded a 25-year contract to supply 2,400 MW of electricity to Bihar. The deal comes after the company emerged as the lowest bidder in a tariff-based competitive bidding process conducted by Bihar State Power Generation Company Ltd. (BSPGCL).
The power will be supplied from a greenfield ultra-supercritical thermal power project to be set up at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur district. The upcoming plant, comprising three units of 800 MW each, will involve an investment of nearly $3 billion. BSPGCL awarded the Letter of Award (LoA) on behalf of the North Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (NBPDCL) and South Bihar Power Distribution Company Ltd. (SBPDCL). The LoA will be followed by the signing of a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) between the entities.
Adani Power had quoted a tariff of ₹6.075 per kWh, making it the lowest bid in the process. The project is expected to provide a significant boost to the state’s power availability, supporting both households and industries.
The construction of the Pirpainti plant is anticipated to create employment opportunities for 10,000–12,000 people, both directly and indirectly. Once operational, the facility is expected to employ around 3,000 people.
S.B. Khyalia, Chief Executive Officer of Adani Power, said the Pirpainti project reflects the company’s commitment to delivering dependable capacity at scale. “With our upcoming ultra-supercritical, high-efficiency Pirpainti project in Bihar, we are setting new benchmarks in operational excellence and sustainability. This plant will provide affordable and uninterrupted power to the people of Bihar, catalysing industrialisation, strengthening the state’s economy, and supporting the prosperity of its people,” he said.
India’s electricity demand is projected to grow significantly in the coming decades. From a current peak demand of around 250 GW, projections estimate it will rise to approximately 400 GW by 2031-32, and exceed 700 GW by 2047. The surge is expected to be driven by rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, and population growth.
Despite increasing focus on renewable energy, thermal power is expected to continue playing a central role in India’s energy mix. With its ability to provide large-scale, reliable, and round-the-clock supply, coal-based power remains crucial for base-load capacity and grid balancing. To address future requirements, the government has envisioned adding around 100 GW of new thermal capacity by 2035.
Adani Power said it is well-positioned to support this expansion. The company currently operates an installed capacity of 18,110 MW across 12 thermal power plants in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu, alongside a 40 MW solar power plant in Gujarat.
As part of the Adani portfolio, APL has consistently focused on integrating technology and innovation to strengthen India’s energy security. The company stated that the Pirpainti project underlines its role in making affordable and dependable power accessible, while also contributing to the state’s economic and social development.
