Jhajjar thermal plant a non starter since inception
April 24, 2012 04:12 PM

CHANDIGARH: Mahatma Gandhi Super Thermal Power Project, Jhajjar in Haryana has proved to be a non starter since its inception.

The coal shortage due to inadequate allocation of coal has been major hindrance in the power generation at thermal plant. The coal stock at plant normally varies between zero and 2 days and the plant operated for only 8 to 9 days during last 101 days ago.

The coal shortage due to inadequate allocation of coal has been major hindrance in the power generation at thermal plant. The coal stock at plant normally varies between zero and 2 days and the plant operated for only 8 to 9 days during last 101 days ago.

The daily coal consumption for one unit is 14400 MT and Haryana’s share from unit was around 135 lakh units daily. The thermal plant has coal linkage from North Karanpura coal field in Jharkhand. As per Central Electricity Authority daily data reports the unit generated for 5 days in March and 4 days in April. The daily generation varied between 0.46 lakh units to 14.1 lakh units. There was no generation reported in January and February this year.

The first unit of 660 MW of thermal plant was commissioned on January 11 this year . The second unit was synchronized with grid on March 29 raising Haryana's power generation capacity to 5050.5 megawatt (MW).Managing Director of state-owned Haryana Power Generation Corporation Ltd (HPGCL) said last month this is the first coal-based power generation project set up by an Independent Power Producer . The two units would provide about 270 lakh additional units of electricity daily to Haryana.

Jhajjar was awarded to China Light & Power through case II competitive bidding in March 2008,with bid rate of Rs 2.996 per unit .The newly commissioned unit is stranded for want of coal. During Feb there was nil generation, in March the generation was just 61.2 Million units while during 1-22 April only 19.1 MU. A 660 MW unit can generate 15.84 MU in one day. Hence during April the total generation achieved was less than two day's output.

According to sources the project was awarded under competitive bidding Case 2, wherein the purchaser State has to arrange fuel. In this case since Haryana has failed to arrange fuel for the project and plant owner will be in a position to claim capacity charges for the unit which is available but shut down due to coal shortage.