Bad news -another China made private power plant unit shut down; dark days ahead in Punjab
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Punjab, who is already reeling under power cuts, power shortage, got another shock today when another unit of Talwandi Sabo Power Plant (TSPL) , Mansa was shut down, early Sunday morning.
As per available information 2nd unit of 660 MW of TSPL got technical fault and the company ordered it shut down. TSPL has 3 units of 660 MW capacity, with total 1980 MW. With these two units becoming non-operational, the power crises deepen in Punjab.
Yesterday, Chief Minister said “the present crisis was the result of failure of one unit of the Talwandi Sabo Power Plant, generating 660 MW of power. While a notice had already been issued to the plant by PSPCL for imposing a heavy penalty, the state government had, on its part, taken strong measures to address the power shortage, he added.”
On July, 2, PSPCL CMD A Venu Prasad, a high-profile bureaucrat came to Patiala and reviewed the power situation in a high-level meeting. He also addressed a meeting of all chief engineers and SEs. of distribution zones. In this meeting distribution arrangements for providing uninterrupted supply to the consumers, especially regular 8 hours the farmers and clearing the pendency of supply complaints were discussed.
Keeping in the mind the 8-hour power required for Paddy transplant, Punjab govt has already taken major decisions. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday ordered curtailment in timings of state government offices, cutting down of power supply to high energy consuming industries with immediate effect, switching off ACs in govt offices, public sector offices, in shopping and commercial establishments (including malls) in Punjab.
Even engineer association has showed their anguish over the State power sector is being forced into a mess by ignoring the expert technical advice. They had already pointed out that its technically unsound decisions to close State sector thermals and total reliance on the private IPPs for meeting with the power demand of the State. Despite strong protest by the Association, the recently renovated and healthy thermal plant at Bathinda was dismantled and two healthy units at Ropar thermal are still being kept non-operational. Both Bathinda and Ropar plants had plenty of useful life still remaining. Moreover, these working power stations were closed without making any alternate arrangements for power. Engineers have been continuously cautioning the management and Punjab Government regarding the looming power crisis. It was brought to the notice that the non-technical decisions being taken by the management on the name of cost-saving, will dearly cost the consumers of Punjab in the form of unreliable power supply and higher electricity tariffs. Unfortunately, the fears of engineers have now come true and Punjab is now facing a severe power crisis during the peak summer season. Now the claims regarding adequate power availability stand exposed by the recurring power cuts being imposed on all categories of consumers.
When contacted the TSPL authorities, they said “the unit has got some technical issues. That’s why the management decided to shut this second unit immediately, to avoid any major issue. Our engineers are already working on it and this unit will be restored by tomorrow.”
As per information the power plant is operated by TSPL, a subsidiary of Vedanta. The Engineering, procurement and construction contract is given to SEPCO1 of People’s Republic of China. TSPL is using China made Dongfang Steam turbine in three units, Steam generators of Harbin Boiler Co.Ltd. China. It’s the first Supercritical unit and one of the largest Greenfield power project in the State of Punjab
July 4,2021
