Punjab Powercom to loose Rs.80 crore for over withdrawl of power

Punjab Newsline Network
Sunday, 09 May 2010
By Vinod Gupta
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Powercom is expected to loose more than Rs. 80 crores by way of extra eithdrawl of power from grid as the state is loosing around 60 lakh units of power per day due to unscheduled closure of 250 MW units at Lehra Mohabatt allegedly due to a manufacturing defect.

The unit no. 4 at Lehra Mohabatt is lying closed since April 20 last following bursting of high pressure CRH line of turbine. The bursting of a high pressure pipeline of a recently commissioned unit is a matter of concern for all. The unit has been handed over to PSEB by BHEL last year.

According to sources it has been found that the high pressure pipe was made of carbon steel instead of alloyed steel. This is a clear lapse on the part of EPC contractor BHEL, and supervisory staff said a senior official on the condition of anonymity. Since the unit has been handed over to PSEB by BHEL in January this year no compensation can be claimed from them.

Initially it was thought the unit would be able to generate power by April end. Subsequently it was found that the thrust bearing of turbine has been damaged. The whole work is likely to be extended to 40 days.

The work has now been given to BHEL and it is not likely to be completed before May end.
Meanwhile unit no. 1 of Ropar Thermal plant is also down since May 6 due to high vibrations in the turbine. The unit was under scheduled maintenance from April 5 to May 4. The unit was closed immediately on Thursday after noticing high vibrations. According to sources hydrogen leakage problem has been attended today while vibration problem is likely to solve in next two days.