With trade unions in the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) planning to go on indefinite strike from Wednesday night, the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) is bracing itself to face the eventuality of a complete shutdown of three thermal power plants in Neyveli.
On an average, the State has been getting about 1,000 megawatt (MW) from the plants.
It may find it difficult to manage the deficit immediately and there is a likelihood of resorting to certain amount of load shedding, an official says. For about a month, the quantum of load shedding has been reduced drastically, even though it has not yet been lifted completely.
Using several sources, the Tangedco is able to meet a total demand of about 11,000 MW. Even as the Corporation’s thermal units are producing about 2,450 MW against their capacity of 2,970 MW, hydro stations have started providing supplementing role during evening peak hours. Inflow to the hydro stations [excluding the Mettur dam that is under the control of the Public Works Department] has been considerable and the present storage is equivalent to generation of nearly 940 million units, nearly 600 MU higher than what it was on the same day last year.
Another comforting factor for the corporation is that its plans for new thermal units are going as per schedule and in a few weeks, the commissioning of units will begin one after the other.
AIADMK’s demo
The AIADMK on Tuesday organised State-wide demonstrations, protesting against the Centre’s move to disinvest five per cent stake in the NLC.
