The Hindu : Kayamkulam NTPC station to be shut down for repairs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 30, 2004

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Kayamkulam NTPC station to be shut down for repairs

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, MARCH 29. Kerala is likely to be hit by power shortage as the Kayamkulam station of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) which provides around 175 MW of power daily would be shut down for about three weeks from April 1 for repair works of a transformer of the steam turbine at the station.

Speaking to The Hindu , the NTPC officials said the station would not generate power from April 1 till the repair works were completed. All the three turbines at the station would remain switched off during the period.

The station generates 350 MW of power a day. While half of the power generated is supplied to Kerala, Tamil Nadu buys the remaining power.

It is pointed out that the if Kerala did not find alternative sources of power during the period, the Kerala State Electricity Board would have to resort to powercuts. Almost all areas in the State have to undergo load-shedding for half-an-hour daily now due to power shortage.

The steam turbine of the station was switched off three days ago. The NTPC officials said the repair works of the transformer would be undertaken at the Transformers and Electricals Kerala Limited (TELK), Angamaly. The repair works would be done by the technicians of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

According to sources, while the power from Kayamkulam is being sold to Kerala at Rs. 3.90 a unit the rate will have to be raised to Rs. 5.30 if the steam turbine is shut down.

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