The first unit of the 500 MW Sipat stage II power project run by the National Thermal power Corporation (NTPC) in Bilaspur district of Chattisgarh went on full load in the presence of Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh. The second 500 MW unit is expected to go fully commercial by October. Both the units use boilers and turbines manufactured by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The two 500 MW units form Stage-II of the project, while three super critical 660 MW units form Stage-I. The boilers for these 660 MW units are being supplied by the South Korean company, Doosan and the turbines by the Russian firm Power Machines. Expressing serious concern over the long delay of over two years in commissioning the project, Mr. Ramesh said he had personally met with the top management of Power Machines recently in a bid to expedite the commissioning. It is now expected that the first 660 MW unit which will also be the first super critical unit in the country will be commissioned by March 31. Mr. Ramesh thanked Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh for his cooperation in getting the prestigious Sipat project going by providing water from the Hasdeo Banjo project as originally