Northern region leads in thermal generation: CEA

19 January, 2012

The latest report of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) suggests despite coal problems at number of thermal plants, power generation as a whole has improved.

THE NORTHERN region leads the improvement of thermal generation in country during December 2011. Thermal generation during the month of December has exceeded the program by 1199 million units (MU) on account of improved availability of coal during the month. It has achieved a growth rate of 8.59% in comparison to the corresponding month last year. The growth rate of thermal generation was maximum (9.87%) in the northern region.

The electricity generation in the country during the month of December’11 has been 72718 MU with a growth rate of 8.02% corresponding to generation of 67322 MU during the same month last year.

Although availability of coal for power sector continued to be critical input for thermal generation growth, the generation from coal based plants improved on account of improved supply of coal. The thermal power stations received 34.9 MT of coal which is 92% of their coal requirements of 37.9 MT during December 2011.

During the month, 24 coal-based Thermal Plants with an aggregate installed capacity of 28940 MW achieved plant load factor (PLF) more than 90%. Five thermal power stations SIPAT STPS (1660 MW), Dahanu TPS (500 MW), OP Jindal TPS (1000 MW), Torangallu TPS (260 MW) and Vinndhyachal STPS (3260 MW) achieved PLF more than 100% during this period.

In state sector Kota (Rajasthan) thermal achieved PLF of 99.73% and Lehra Mohabatt (Punjab) achieved 97.63%PLF. 69 thermal plants showed less generation of more than 100 million units in first nine months and these included Yamunanagar (Haryana) and Bhatinda (Punjab).

Khedar thermal plant in Haryana is amongst 23 new thermal plants which exceeded the generation target for the first three quarters of year.

As per latest CEA coal stock report of January 16 the coal stock of 43 TPS was critical (less than 7days). Out of these 19 TPS were having coal stock of less than 4 days. Four plants namely Barauni (Bihar) Bokaro (Jharkhand) Talchar (Orissa) and Mejia (Bengal) have zero stock. Two plants are yet to start receiving coal after their readiness.

The main reasons for coal shortages are inadequate receipt of coal and transportation problems. Loss of generation of about 1 billion units due to shortage of coal during the month of December 11 alone has so far has been reported.