PSPCL's first gas power plant in limbo | PSEB Engineers Association

PSPCL's first gas power plant in limbo
Vishal Rambani [email protected]
PATIALA:

( ) There is no major breakthrough but the central electricity authority has informed us that they are considering the proposal.

GS CHABHRA PSPCL director

The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited in its efforts to setup a gas-based thermal power plant has achieved little, as Centre government is yet to allocate gas linkage for the project.
After mulling to set up a 1,000-MW gas-based power plant at Ropar, the PSPCL in year 2009 had sought allocation of 5-million metric standard cubic metre gas per day at the government rate from the Centre. Two years on, the PSPCL is still awaiting union ministry's go ahead to setup state's first gas-based power plant, which could also serve as a peaking station.

As per information, the power ministry had forwarded the PSPCL proposal to the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, which was to take the final decision.

The PSPCL had sought gas at the government rate, as the gas was much costly in the open market. The government rate for the gas is Rs 4.5 per unit.

Talking to Hindustan Times, PSPCL director (generation) GS Chabhra said that corporation was vigorously taking up the proposal.

“Though there is no major breakthrough but the central electricity authority has informed that they are considering the proposal. Once gas is allotted, the group of ministers will finalise the rate of the gas to be supplied“.

If the gas is allocated now, the project will be commissioned by 2014 at an estimated cost of Rs 4,500 crore, he added.

Pertinently, PSPCL has already earmarked 400 acres adjoining the existing 1,260-MW thermal power plant at Ropar for the gas-based plant. It would be a state sector project.

The PSPCL has already finalised the consultant to obtain the environmental clearance and no objection certificate for the gas power project.

The PSPCL has also signed an agreement with the Gas Authority India Limited (GAIL), which is undertaking work on the gas pipeline to supply gas.