-Lehra Thermal Plant fares well

Yogindra Mohan

Patiala

The country suffered thermal generation loss to the tune of 26.1 billion units due to coal problems and gas shortage in the first five months of financial year as per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA)

report. However, even under adverse conditions, Lehra Mohhabat Thermal Plant in Punjab with its plant load factor of 94.72 per cent tops the list of thermal plants in the state sector. The less generation loss includes

after effect of two grid failures on July 30 and 31.

The CEA report maintains that loss of 26.11 billion units (BU) of generation included loss of generation from shortage of coal 10.33 BU, wet and poor coal quality 2.03 BU, backing down and shutdown of units 3.45 BU, transmission constraints 3.77 BU and gas shortage 6.53 BU up to July.

Even for the month of August, thermal generation loss is 1.97 billion units which includes 1.03 BU from coal based thermal plants. As per report, the monthly thermal generation in August in northern region was 92.04 per cent.

The main reasons cited for the shortfall are nil generation at Yamunanagar Thermal plant (turbine problem of U#1 and 2), less generation at Indira Gandhi Thermal plant Jhajjar (forced outages),

Rajiv Gandhi Thermal plant Khedar (turbine problem) and Bathinda Thermal plant (Reserve shutdown and milling problem).

The plant load factor (PLF) of thermal stations during August 2012 was reduced to 61.41 per cent against target PLF of 65.33 per cent.

Last year during August, the corresponding PLF was 66.19 per cent. The PLF of coal based stations during August 2012 and

April 2012-August 2012 further reduced to 61.05 per cent and 69.67 per cent respectively. The PLF of private generating thermal plants was also

reduced from 66.15 per cent to 53.58 per cent as compared to August 2011.

The report mentions that during the month, 90 per cent of the total requirement of coal was available. The thermal power stations received about 31 million tonnes (MT) of coal against the demand of 34.4 MT. Ending September 2012 , a total of 34 thermal plants had critical coal stock ie less than seven days and out of these 20 plants were

having coal stock of less than four days.

The coal stock in thermal plants of Punjab continues to be comfortable. Ropar thermal plant has 26 days coal stock, Lehra

Mohhabat thermal 19 days and Bathinda thermal has for 29 days.
Despite coal supply constraints, Lehra Thermal Plant fares well