PUNJAB NEWSLINE
Trial run of Khedar Thermal unit continues

Vinod Kumar Gupta
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
HISAR: Much needed power from Khedar Thermal Plant is not yet available as the trial run of 600 MW unit continues and unit is nowhere near completion for its commercial run.

Last month Chief Minister Haryana while inaugurating the synchronization of unit no. 2 had told the gathering of engineers that Unit-1 of the project, commissioned on full load earlier this month, should be stabilised as early as possible so that it started commercial operations by the middle of May.

According to information obtained under RTI from HPGCL authorities unit no. 1 achieved full load of 610 MW on April 1 this year whereas Ministry of Power has claimed that unit was commissioned on March 31 in last financial year.

The unit though under trial run is now running at 170 MW for the last two days as it was under shutdown for 16 days since May 2 reportedly due to boiler leakage. Even last month in April unit remained down for most of the period.

Khedar thermal unit generated 76.45 million units in 09-10 and in April 2010 it generated 85.375 million units only PLF 19.76%.This unit had been declared as 'Commissioned' in April by CEA, CM Haryana as well as RInfra.

The 14 days trial run on full load has not yet started as the teething problems are in large number and assessment of CM Haryana of achieving commercial run by 15 May has already passed.

AIPEF had pointed out that the claim of HPGCL authorities that unit achieved full load is incorrect as unit could not cross 518 MW on 01 April. CEA has given commissioning date as 31 March whereas unit could go up to only 460 MW on 31 March and tripped at 2245 hrs.