The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Two power projects behind schedule

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Friday, Jul 16, 2010
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Two power projects behind schedule

T. Ramakrishnan

Delay in supplies from BHEL the reason

TNEB has taken up matter with Centre
In April and May, the temporary power purchase bill came to around Rs.3,000 crore

CHENNAI: The execution of major power generation projects – 1,200 megawatt (MW) North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS) expansion and the 1,000 MW Vallur power project – is behind schedule.

This is attributed to the delay in supplies from Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), the main contractor.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has taken up the matter with the Union Power Ministry.

It is learnt that C.P. Singh, TNEB Chairman, wrote to Union Power Secretary P. Umashankar a few weeks ago, to ensure that the execution did not suffer much.

Going by the present indications, the first 500 MW unit of the Vallur power project, promoted jointly by the TNEB and the NTPC, is expected to be commissioned by April or May 2011 against the original deadline of October this year.

Another unit of 500 MW, slated for March 2011, may be ready by September 2011. One more unit is planned. The scheduled date of commissioning is September 2012. In respect of the NCTPS expansion project, the two units of 600 MW each that the TNEB wants to be commissioned between September 2010 and February next will be ready by the middle of 2011.

The Board has approached the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries, under whose control lies the BHEL. While officials of the Ministry appreciate the case of Tamil Nadu, they have also indicated their constraints in coming to the rescue of the State. Power deficit

On an average, power deficit in the State during peak hours (6 p.m. to 10 p.m) is 1,730 MW; 1,900 MW during day (6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and 830 MW (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). The Board has to resort to temporary purchase of around 1,500 MW a day to meet the shortfall, even after imposing 20 per cent power cut on industries and peak-hour restrictions. This does not include the purchase of power from sources such as wind power operators.

In April and May, the temporary power purchase bill came to around Rs.3,000 crore, says a senior TNEB official.

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