The power-deficit State may soon get some relief. The new 600-MW single unit of Stage-III of the Mettur Thermal Power Station (MTPS) reached its full load here after a successful trial run.
Officials said the plant was able to generate power to its full capacity continuously for three days from Thursday to Saturday. Maintenance works would be carried out for the next 45 days and would be handed over to Tangedco for commissioning. It will then attain the state of COD (Commercial Operation Declaration) and 600 MW power would be available for commercial purpose, said a senior engineer.
The trial run went on for the past three months and all complications were sorted out. “The commissioning date has to be decided by Chief Minister,” he said.
The plant was built by BGR Energy Systems Limited, Chennai, at a cost of Rs. 3,550 crore with equipment from China.
It ran into rough weather due to technical snags and initial hiccups in the use of furnace oil. This delayed the trial run for the past one year. After rectifying the problems, the trial run began and the plant was able to constantly improve power production and finally reached its full capacity. The unit was synchronized on May 2012 and it touched its full load on October 2012. As the plant requires 10,500 tonnes of coal per day officials are gearing up to stock adequate coal for operating the plant after commissioning.
Currently, 840 MW power was generated from the four units in Stage-I and II that were commissioned between 1987 and 1990.
