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Performance of Yamuna Nagar thermal remains below par
01-Apr-2010 05:21:00 By: Vinod Kumar Gupta
Yamunanagar: The performance of Yamuna Nagar thermal plant has improved considerably as compared to last year but it is still nowhere near thermal plants of Punjab with 10 to 25 years vintage.

The generation at Yamunanagar thermal plant was 4261 million units with a plant load factor (PLF) of 81.07 percent for the financial year ending on March 31 against last years plant load factor of 69.92 percent. The PLF of 81.07 percent is unsatisfactory considering that CERC norm of availability is 85percent.

Yamunanagar plant which is a new one commissioned in June 08 performed much lower than the Ropar and Lahra Mohabatt thermal plant in the neighboring Punjab. Ropar thermal plant which is a 25 years old plant achieved a plant load factor of 91.11 percent. Lehra Mohabatt thermal plant achieved a plant load factor of 96.41 percent.

The two units of Yamuna Nagar thermal plant became operational on April 14 2008 and June 24 2008 respectively. Despite two years of operation the desired performance has not been achieved. Unit no.1 achieved 95.4 percent PLF for the month of March this year but the unit 2 remained struck on load of 170MW to 180 MW and achieved a dismal load factor of only 30.1 percent during March even though it is a new unit.

This thermal plant which has been erected and commissioned by Reliance with Chinese equipment has been taken over by HPGCL provisionally. Performance guarantee tests prescribed in EPC Contract are yet to be conducted due to which the final takeover of plant by HPGCL is pending.
A plant engineer said that they are having problems of getting components repaired locally in state as most of the markings and literature is in Chinese language. The reliability of Chinese equipment is now a question mark as similar doubts have been raised in other such power plants in the country. The 2x300 MW Sagardighi thermal plant in West Bengal with Chinese equipment operated at 56.78% PLF during period April 2009 to Feb 2010, and 55.06% during 2008-09 as per CEA data.

HPGCL has revised upwardly generation incentive scheme at the thermal plant to motivate employees for better performance. Employees will get incentive whenever monthly PLF exceeds 85 percent and payment has now been linked to grade pay