NEW DELHI, Feb 6, 2026, 20:39 (IST)
- NTPC’s Vindhyachal station has kicked off its first ash-brick dispatch using a dealership model
- Company says the move aims to expand market reach and improve the use of industrial by-products
- Government data reveal that India produced 340 million tonnes of fly ash in 2024-25
NTPC Ltd’s Vindhyachal power station has launched its first shipment of ash bricks through a dealership model, the company announced Friday. The initiative targets a more organized market approach and promotes responsible reuse of industrial waste. PSU Watch
The issue ties into a larger challenge: coal plants produce fly ash—the fine powder left after burning coal—and India is pushing to repurpose it in cement, roads, and building materials rather than just dumping it. According to a government statement, India generated 340.11 million tonnes of fly ash in 2024-25 and managed to use 332.63 million tonnes. Press Information Bureau
NTPC has been setting up dealer-led sales for some time. In a May 2025 tender document, the company noted it sells ash-based products under the “VIKALP” brand via both direct sales and dealerships. Vindhyachal was named among the stations producing ash bricks. The document also listed NTPC’s installed capacity at 76,598 MW and ash output at roughly 95 million tonnes annually. NTPC Tender Portal
Sanjib Kumar Saha, chief general manager, led the ceremonial flag-off at Vindhyachal, joined by senior officials A.J. Rajkumar, M. Suresh, Satendra Sinha, and Ruma De Sharma, Indian Masterminds reported. Indian Masterminds
NTPC described the dealership model as a way to boost “value realisation” from by-products and promote a circular economy by turning waste into raw material. The Indian PSU also highlighted the role of an internal support team, CC-OS, which aided the rollout at the station. Indian PSU News
Ash bricks swap out a portion of clay for fly ash collected from power plants, converting a waste problem into a building material. Builders handle them just like regular bricks, while utilities gain a use for ash that would otherwise remain in ponds.
Vindhyachal in Madhya Pradesh boasts an installed capacity of 4,760 megawatts, per NTPC’s website. ntpc.co.in
NTPC reports that fly ash and pond ash from its plants go into bricks, blocks, tiles, and other precast items, along with embankment work for infrastructure projects. ntpc.co.in
At a 2024 NTPC power-stations conference, then Power Minister R.K. Singh stressed that thermal and renewable power must “coexist,” calling it “the need of the hour” to boost efficiency and reduce emissions. The event also marked the launch of Vikalp, an ash-brick crafted from industrial by-products. ETEnergyworld.com
But selling bricks isn’t the same as producing them. Dealers must still move product in a price-sensitive construction market, and transport costs can erase any edge if buyers are located far from the factory.
NTPC hasn’t shared details on the volume dispatched, pricing, or the number of dealers it intends to appoint near Vindhyachal. At this stage, it’s simply testing if ash can be distributed through regular channels rather than being classified as waste.
