Haryana not to face power cuts this summer

25 February, 2013

Haryana has become power surplus in this election year, as the state has bridged the gap between power demand and supply after arranging power from Adani.

All northern states, except Haryana, are expected to face power cuts in the coming summer months. The state has signed long term contract with Adani for supply of 1424 MW of power from the three 660 MW units of Mundra thermal plant in Gujarat. The power from Adani is supplied through 500 KV HVDC Mundra –Mohindergarh transmission line.

Last year power demand was around 7000 MW during paddy season and daily power shortage ranged between 250 to 300 lac units. This year the supply of additional 340 lac units daily from Mundra may help the state to avoid power cuts.

As Haryana has started getting power from Adani since last one month, HPGCL has been forced to shut down its nine thermal units in this lean period. At present six units of Panipat, two units of Khedar and one unit at Yamuna Nagar are under forced shut down.

According to sources, to take advantage of forced closure of units on no demand, HPGCL has asked Reliance to complete the pending jobs at Khedar thermal plant. Unit no. 1 and 2 have been taken on maintenance for three and two months respectively. HPGCL was not able to arrange earlier long shut down of Khedar units due to power demand.

According to a power utility official, the supply of Mundra Power during lean period is going to prove a costly affair. The forced closure of thermal units will save only running charges (fuel cost) of unit which is around Rs. 2 per unit. HPGCL will have to incur fixed charges of Rs. one per unit for forced outage of units.

To avoid the forced closure of thermal units and to improve plant load factor at Khedar thermal plant, Haryana Power Generation Corporation Limited (HPGCL) has invited bids for supply of two million metric tonne (MMT) of imported steam coal for three thermal power plants located in the state. These power stations are 1360 MW Panipat Thermal plant, 600 MW Deenbandhu Chotu Ram thermal power plant Yamunanagar and 1200 MW Rajiv Gandhi Thermal plant Khedar (Hissar) which will need 0.8 MMT, 0.3 MMT and 0.9 MMT respectively.

Haryana has 90% share in 1320 MW thermal units of China Light & Power at Jhajjar which has been facing coal shortage problems since inception. One 660 MW unit is on forced outage most of the time.