Mumbai, March 24 (IANS): Generating major Reliance Power (RPower) Monday said the third 660 megawatt unit of its 3,960 MW Sasan Ultra Mega Power Project (UMPP) has commenced power generation.

With this, the UMPP has commissioned 1,980 MW of operational capacity.

"With this unit, RPower's generation capacity has increased to 3,865 MW which includes 3,780 MW of thermal capacity and 85 MW of renewable energy-based capacity," the company said in a stock exchange filing.

"Balance three units are in advanced stages of construction and will be commissioned over the next few months," RPower added.

The Sasan UMPP is the largest integrated power plant and coal mining project in the world. Coal production has already commenced from the 20-million-tonne Moher and Moher-Amlohri coal mines associated with the power project, the company said.

RPower stock gained after the announcement during trading hours Monday. Its share was trading at 2 p.m. at Rs.65.60 -- up 1.55 percent, or by a point, over its previous close on the BSE.