Karnataka’s power situation improves, but continues to fluctuate

UPCL unit trips hours after resuming generation

The State continued to witness fluctuations in power generation on Monday, though the situation improved slightly after the 201-MW Unit-1 of Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) resumed operations.

Earlier in the day, a unit of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd., with a capacity of 555 MW, resumed generation, only to trip around 7.30 p.m.

Despite the tripping, the State’s total power shortage decreased from 2,500 MW-2,600 MW on Sunday to 1,967 MW on Monday, including generation from renewable resources.

Reports, however, suggested that by late evening there was not much improvement in the situation with respect to reduction in the State’s share from the Central Generating Stations.

Two units in the RTPS — with a capacity of 210 MW and 250 MW respectively — and another unit in Bellary Thermal Power Station with a capacity of 500 MW are yet to resume generation, as they are still under annual maintenance. Sources in the power sector are hopeful that both units would begin generating power by month-end. Following that, the RTPS may shut its seventh unit for annual maintenance.

Coal shortage

Sources in the power sector pointed out that there was a temporary shortage of coal owing to heavy rain. The rain near coal mines in Odisha has affected the supplies to the State. As against the normal supply of five to six rakes of coal a day, the State was getting three to four rakes in the last few days, they said.

They expect the supplies to get into a normal mode in the next two to three days.

When the supply resumes, the State’s thermal generation will also increase as presently there is a loss of about 250 MW in the thermal units due to underperformance owing to coal shortage, they said.

While the supply of coal has dwindled, the stock at RTPS was also affected as it got wet following heavy rain last week. “The RTPS site had never witnessed this kind of rain in the recent years,” an official said.

As an emergency measure, the dampened coal itself is being used for power generation. “This would take more time to generate heat and may throw up some minor problems related to operation. But we have no other option,” sources said.