In a bid to diversify its product portfolio, National Thermal Power Corporation plans to enter into new areas like power distribution and electricity supply besides consolidating its presence in hydel power sector.

Speaking at a function for induction of executive trainees in New Delhi, C P Jain, chairman and managing director, NTPC, said the power giant was diversifying into new areas in line with its corporate strategy across geographical and sectoral space.

NTPC is also planning to set up coal washeries and enter the coal mining segment, he added.

Jain said company would nearly triple its generation capacity to 56,000 MW by 2017, up from the current 20,000 MW.

NTPC is setting up nearly 2,000 MW of hydel power capacity, including 800 MW Koldam facility in Himachal Pradesh. Besides, three other hydel power projects are at the drawing stage with a capacity of nearly 1,000 MW in Uttaranchal.

Currently, most of the company's capacity is accounted for by thermal power stations based on coal and gas. It runs several gas-fired stations including the ones at Kawas, Gandahar, Aurya, Anta and Kayamkulam.

Director (human resources) K K Sinha said NTPC was inducting 297 trainees this year as part of employment programme and has tied up with IIT-Delhi and BITS Pilani to impart training to engineers in power technology and engineering.