Dwindling coal stock at Jhajjar & Khedar worries HPGCL

13 October, 2012

HPGCL hopes to commission one unit at Yamuna Nagar thermal this month amid coal crisis at Jhajjar & Khedar thermal plants.

ACCORDING TO Central Electricity Authority's (CEA) daily report, the coal stock at 1320 MW Jhajjar thermal plant is 46000 MT which is just sufficient for two days. At the 1200 MW Khedar thermal plant, the coal stock of about 1 lac MT is just sufficient for six days. Even at NTPC 1000 MW Jhajjar thermal plant coal stock is for three days.

The dwindling coal stocks at HPGCL’s plant will continue to worry the utility as state-owned Coal India has turned down the power utility's request for enhancement of coal linkage, from 4.5 million tons (MT) to 5.48 MT for year 2012-13 , and conversion of coal grade from 'F' to 'D' for its 2x600 MW Khedar Thermal Power Plant .

According to sources, the CEA favored coal supply of 5.48 MT for this project the ministry restricted the quantum to 4.5 MT for the year 2012-13. The Panipat thermal plant also faces problem of coal shortages. The present coal stock of 1,38,000 MT at Panipat is just sufficient for 7 days. The power utility has already sought allocation of 1.6 MT of additional coal for the thermal project.

300 MW Unit 2 of Yamuna Nagar thermal plant which suffered damage to turbine rotor on September 25 last year is likely to be revived wit in this month. The revival of unit will give much needed relief to consumers. The rotor was sent to Baroda at the works of Siemens for balancing at a total cost of about 5 crore.

300 MW Unit 1 of plant suffered failure of turbine blades on March 31 this year. The failure of turbine blades of Unit 1 was allegedly due to poor quality of manufacture. HPGCL has transported L.P. Turbine rotor & LP Turbine inner-inner casing from Yamuna Nagar to China by sea route in June for repair. The turbine blades could not be repaired in India as Chinese firm has no repairing facility in India.

The rotor and other parts are yet to be received at Indian port after repairs. After receipt at port it will take two months to bring back the unit.