Rs 30,000 cr earmarked to upgrade 115 power plants
The government has set aside upwards of Rs 30,000 crore for the upgrade and maintenance of almost 115 hydro and thermal power generating units, including some thermal stations commissioned as early as 1968. About 20 of those thermal units were built before 1980 and had been slated for retirement before local and state-backed lobbying efforts altered the centre’s plans for the plants which are operating with an average plant load factor (PLF) of 42.67 per cent.
Under the 11th five-year plan, 113 units amounting to 46,781 mega watts (MW) at 100 per cent PLF will or have already garnered portions of the Rs 30,000 investment, most of which will fall on the shoulders of the central government and its most prized power Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) NTPC. “Based on the age and performance of the thermal and hydel power plants, some of the old units have been identified for modernization during the Eleventh Plan period in consultation with the concerned power utilities,” said Bharatsinh Solanki, Minister of State in the Ministry of Power, in a statement laid before Parliament on Friday. “The modernisation works are carried out by the utilities, however the government provides technical and financial support for timely completion of the works.”
Although plants in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Orissa and Gujarat have reached retirement age, local power shortages and cries from their state government have prevented the retirement of some power stations commissioned more than 40-years-ago. Among the oldest units in India are Obra units 1 and 2 in UP which generate 40 MW each at 100 PLF. After a combined 200 crore was invested in the units, they are operating at 65 and 75 per cent PLF, according to documents laid before Parliament by the Ministry of Power.
Although the typical life of a thermal station is about 25 years, plans such as this one in the 11th five-year-plan extend the life of the plants to 35 and sometimes 45 years, outgoing Power Secretary HS Brahma told The Indian Express. “These plants do ultimately become ineffective and can be a hazard, but with these states facing such severe peak power deficits, and the new plants under delay, sometimes there’s no choice,” said a high ranking official with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
The CEA said plans to retire 1,100 MW before 2012 have been finalized while another 4,000 to 5,000 will be retired in both the 12th and 13th five-year-plans.
Under the existing plan, 53 thermal units ranging from 42 to 16-years-old will get life extension renovations. As many as 57 hydro plants with a generating capacity of 10,833 MW will endure renovations and modernizations at a cost of Rs 4,207 Crs.
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