The Hindu : Power generation, PLF improve in State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Power generation, PLF improve in State

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA MARCH 24. Power generation and plant load factor (PLF) in stations in the State have improved considerably during the current year compared to the situation last year.

According to official figures, in the first nine months of the current financial year, power generation increased by 6.4 per cent compared to 3.9 per cent during the corresponding period last year.

Despite the setback suffered in power generation and plant load factor by hydel projects during this period, the State could maintain a healthy generation rate mainly due to better PLF achieved by thermal plants. The PLF increased to 71.7 per cent compared to 68.1 per cent recorded last year.

However, the overall generation rate remained at 4.2 per cent this year mainly due to the reduction in generation by hydel projects, which came come down from eight per cent to 4.9 per cent. However, the growth rate of 4.2 per cent this year is better than the previous year's 2.5 per cent.

Official sources told The Hindu here today that despite the reduction in power generation by hydel projects, the shortage of electricity in the State was slightly higher than the national average of 9.1 per cent. The shortage was expected to be 10 per cent. However, the situation was better in the State compared to the shortage of 20.5 per cent in Uttar Pradesh.

Sources said 18,196 mu. of power was generated by the public sector during 2002-03, a decline of 5.3 per cent, compared to 19,214 mu. produced last year. There had been a steep decline of 26.5 per cent in generation by hydel projects. However, generation in thermal projects was expected to go up from 9,686 mu. in 2001-02 to 11,192 mu., registering an increase of 15.5 per cent. Generation by the private sector was pegged at 951 mu. during the current year.

Sources said PLF had decreased considerably in hydel power stations, though it had increased in thermal stations, except a minor decline in first and fourth units of the RTPS. The installed capacity of the public sector would be 4,699.07 MW — 3,096.59 MW of hydel power, 1,597.92 MW of thermal and diesel power, and 4.56 MW of wind power. The installed capacity of the private sector, which was showing an upward trend, would be 526.75 MW by the year end.

However, the State has a long way to go to fully harness the total hydel potential of 7,750 MW. Taking up work on the 290-MW power project at the Alamatti Dam under the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) at a cost of Rs. 674.38 crore is likely to boost generation. The State Government has obtained clearance from the agencies concerned to execute the project and civil works are progressing well as planned.

Similarly, clearance for the Rs. 2,266-crore Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) has been obtained and work on the project is expected to commence shortly.

The Government proposes to set up a gas-based combined cycle plant at Bidadi near Bangalore. The estimated cost of the project is Rs. 2,265 crore, and a report has been submitted to the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) for approval.

Besides, the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. proposes to establish a 210-MW eighth unit at RTPS at a cost of Rs. 674 crore.

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