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Gas shortage hits power projects

NEW DELHI: At a time when the country is faced with a bleak power scenario with shortage of power turning out to be a major concern, nearly half a dozen power projects amounting to 2,250 MW of power are pending for commissioning due to shortage of gas.

The matter has been raised by the State governments with the Union Power Ministry and during the meetings of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) requesting for adequate supply of gas for all the existing gas-based projects and for those which are still under construction. Interestingly, some of the projects have already been commissioned but have been unable to generate power due to shortage of gas while in some cases the generation of power has been erratic due to inconsistent supply of gas.

According to an official report of the Union Power Ministry, nearly 2,250 MW worth projects are pending for commissioning or had been commissioned but were unable to generate power. The total gas required of such projects has been estimated at around 10.76 million standard cubic metres a day (MSCMD). For instance, the Ratnagiri power project, Block-3, run by Ratnagiri Gas Power Private Limited, Maharashtra, with a 740 MW of capacity has been pending for commissioning due to shortage of gas. Its other units have been generating erratic power due to irregular supply of gas. Similarly, the Gautami power project with 464 MW capacity and Konaseema power project with a capacity of 445 MW in Andhra Pradesh have been lying idle for a long time due to non-availability of gas. The 370 MW Vemagiri power project and the 220 MW Jegurupadu power project, also in Andhra Pradesh, have been commissioned but have been unable to generate any power due to lack of gas supply.

Power Ministry officials said the matter had been raised with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry that has assured that the shortage of gas would cease once the KG basin gas goes into full production. “It is expected that by the middle of next year, gas will become available abundantly due to rise in gas production as well as laying of gas pipeline network,” a senior official said.

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