Punjab Newsline
Jhajjar Thermal project’s commissioning rescheduled
VINOD KUMAR GUPTA
Friday, 19 June 2009
CHANDIGARH: The chances of early commissioning of first two units of 1500 MW Indira Gandhi Super thermal plant at Jhajjar are bleak due to various problems being faced at project site and has now been rescheduled for April 2010 and October 2010 respectively.

This project is the largest power generating project being set up in Haryana. It is a joint venture between NTPC, Haryana and Delhi. For execution of this project, a joint venture company Aravali Power Company Pvt Ltd was formed in December 2006. The total estimated project cost is Rs 7,892 crore, and so far, an expenditure of Rs 2,543 crore has been incurred towards the development of the project since its commencement.

The super thermal power project has now been rescheduled for commissioning in April 2010, while the remaining two units are expected to go on stream by October 2010 and January 2011, respectively.

Haryana has been allocated 50% of the power to be produced by Unit-I of the project. while the remaining would be wheeled to Delhi, where power demand is anticipated to surge to 7,000 MW during the commonwealth games.
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According to sources NTPC in a review meeting held by Ministry of Power has expressed serious concerns at the lapses of BHEL in the supply and erection of equipment. . The meeting was called to assess the status of different projects supplying power to Delhi for forthcoming Commonwealth games in 2010.

NTPC has accused BHEL of delaying the HP and IP turbine assemblies for the first two units of the power project. The delay in supplies of critical equipments for conducting hydro tests on first two units may derail the commissioning. Further BHEL has not been able to adequately deploy manpower to carry out erection work at project site.

According to sources Coal India has not confirmed the availability of coal with ash content not exceeding 34 percent as stipulated by Ministry of Environment and Forests. The proposed coal washery by coal India is unlikely to come before commissioning of plant.

Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. The fuel supplier to plant is yet to confirm availability of adequate quantities of washed coal for the project. The firm’s ability to supply coal is crucial for the running of plant.