The first unit of the Vallur Thermal Power Project is expected to go on stream in 2010-2011, according to an official.
The NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Ltd (NTECL), a joint of the NTPC and the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB), is setting up the project near Chennai. The partners have equal share in the project, which will have three units of 500 MW each.
“The lifting and erection of the boiler drum for the first unit was accomplished on June 9. We will conduct the hydraulic testing by February/March as we are yet to receive some equipment required for the testing. The boiler drum for the second unit will be erected by December. The third unit has been awarded to BHEL as a separate package,” he told The Hindu on Wednesday.
According to the official, it took three years to finalise legal and other modalities for commissioning the project. “As of now, we have problems only with the first unit. The second and third units will be on stream as per the schedule.”
FICCI workshop
Earlier, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) organised a two-day exhibition-cum-workshop on ‘Equipment, components and tools for thermal power generation,’ at NCTPS Vallur Residential Quarters.
It was attended by over 50 civil engineers, superintending engineers, executive engineers, assistant engineers and technicians. They were briefed about the requirements and issues pertaining to usage of the latest, cost-saving and eco-friendly equipment and components in thermal power generation.
C.P. Singh, TNEB Chairman, said that there was a huge gap between demand and supply of equipment and components and this had to be bridged as the requirement for thermal power plant would be Rs.400 crore to Rs.500 crore in the next three to four years and was expected to grow ten-fold.
“Workshops such as this would provide first-hand information to the power managers to know the latest technology and make large scale procurement without yielding to vested interests. Tamil Nadu is faring well in procurement as it has a well laid out procedure. After seeing the success of this exhibition, we will conduct it in Thoothukudi and Mettur thermal power stations,” he said. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, FICCI-TNSC Chairman, said that the exhibition would enable engineers, technicians and other employees of TNEB to enhance their knowledge of equipment and tools used in running the thermal power plants.
Thermal project to have three units of 500 MW each
