The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi makes a bid to become power-sufficient

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Thursday, Mar 13, 2008
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New Delhi

Delhi makes a bid to become power-sufficient

Staff Reporter

Foundation stone of NDPL’s new 108 MW gas-based power plant laid at Rithala

“Supply from this plant will come in handy in times of exigencies”
“Power generated likely to be cheaper compared with that purchases from other sources”

NEW DELHI: With Delhi’s dream of becoming “power surplus” still somewhere in the distant future, the city has nevertheless begun the process of becoming self-sufficient to meet its demands. With the laying of the foundation stone of North Delhi Power Limited’s 108 MW gas-based power plant at Rithala on Tuesday, the city has inched closer towards becoming self-reliant in power production.

The plant, whose foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, is expected to begin commercial operations by June next year and augment the city’s production to meet its increasing demands.

“Although 108 MW seems like a small quantum, supply from this plant will come in handy in times of exigencies like grid collapse. The supply can be used to run emergency services and as rescue power to start other generation units,” said NDPL chairperson Adi J. Engineer.

Referring to the recent tripping of power supply lines of the Northern Grid that caused a huge power shutdown in the Capital, Mr. Engineer said: “It is important for a distribution utility to be able to generate at least a portion of its total power requirement through its own facilities. This minimises the disruption caused to its distribution network by grid disturbances and also reduces dependence on more expensive outside sources for meeting peak demand.”

The power generated at the new plant is also expected to be cheaper compared with the power that the discom has to purchase from other sources. “Power is likely to cost us Rs.4 per unit depending on the price of gas. To meet the highest peak power demand last year, we procured expensive power from outside at costs as high as Rs.10 per unit,” said Sunil Wadhwa, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of NDPL.

Laying the foundation stone of the plant, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had a word of caution for the consumers: a continuous supply of electricity also means an escalation in power bills. She also assured that with this plant and the 1,500 MW plant at Bawana and a 750 MW plant at Bamnauli and an additional 750 MW from the Jhajjar power plant, Delhi can look forward to an improved power supply in the years to come.

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