The first 800 MW unit of Kudgi super-critical thermal power project in Vijayapura district, in the state of Karnataka in India, is likely to go on stream.
Kudgi Super Thermal Power Plant, is one of the coal based power plants of National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC).
The Power supply position of Bengaluru, is expected to change in the first week of May.
NTPC, Executive Director, Harbans Singh, said, “We will start commercial operations in the first week of May.”
The NTPC commissioned the unit in December.
Through this power project, Bengaluru will get about 400 MW of power in a season.
Bengaluru witnesses peak power demand from agriculture, industrial and commercial consumers owing to increase in temperature.
The State accounts for one third of Karnataka’s current requirement of about 10,000 MW of power.
Also, the State, in terms of energy, requires about 220 million units (MUs) per day.
At 400 MW, this will translate to about 8 MUs, per day, bringing some relief.
Any advancements in power supply, in Bengaluru, will benefit ITITEs and BPO companies as well as the manufacturing sector.
These companies, in turn, draw power from their diesel generating units at higher costs, in times of supply disruptions.
If Bangalore Electricity supply company Limited (BESCOM), is able to ensure reliable power supply, its own revenues will improve.
This is because, the IT and manufacturing firms will pay higher tariffs.
Harbans Singh, further said, that, NTPC over the next seven months, will strengthen Karnataka's power position by launching two more units of 800 MW capacity.
The PSU giant has already synchronized unit 2 to the grid, and the third is expected to be synchronized next month.
Commercial operations of unit 2 will be started by August, and unit 3 by October, Singh added.
The power project will not only support its home state of Karnataka, but also Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Pondi cherry and Kerala.
The rest of the power is shared by other states, with Karnataka, generating half of the power.
The cost of generation at the project could be Rs 5.50 per unit, according to NTPC officials.
This is, however, expected to come down by a bit with progressive rise in the plant load factor (PLF).
The increase in power availability cannot, however, guarantee few disruptions in Bengaluru.
The reason behind this could be, because the 11 kV lines require better maintenance, say engineers associated with handling distribution.
Additionally, there are transmission constraints in eastern parts (Hoody, Kadugodi, ITI, and Kachamaranahalli), and southern parts (Mylasandra and Jigani) in the city.
The Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) engineers have already taken various system augmentation plans which will improve conditions very soon.
It will take at least a year to commission it, as these are large infrastructure projects involving huge investments, says sources.
By Supraja
