Power surplus, Genco puts 8 old units for sale

Nagpur: Now that there is no possibility of load shedding in foreseeable future, Mahagenco has decided to sell eight old units. Out of these, four units at Nashik and Parli power plants are very old and had been taken offline five years ago. The other four units based at Uran power plant are lying in disuse because of gas shortage. The total generation capacity (derated) is 520MW.
A Mahagenco official said that the reason for selling them was that there was no possibility of these units being ever used. “New units are in the pipeline and we are facing coal shortage. Since there is no possibility of gas supply in immediate future, the Uran units are being sold. The most important factor is that MSEDCL is now power surplus. When the coal fired units were scrapped in 2010 their revival had been considered because of acute power shortage,” he explained.
“The buyer can run these units for his own use, generate power to sell it others or use it as scrap. The bidder who offers the highest price will bag the units,” he added.
Four 105MW units of Koradi power plant were also lying in disuse since the last three years. They were commissioned in the first half of 1970s. They too would be scrapped in the coming months, another official said. Three units of 210MW – Chandrapur Unit 1, Bhusawal Unit 2 and Parli Unit 3 – have been taken offline for economic shutdown. All of them are over 30 years old whereas the life of a coal-fired unit is 25 years. If coal shortage for new units persists then they too may be scrapped.
The total capacity of the seven units is 1,050MW while the total capacity of new units is 3,230MW. A 500MW unit at Chandrapur and a 660MW at Koradi has started generation on trial basis and are expected to be commissioned soon.
Presently, there is no load shedding in the state except when done as a penal measure for excessive power theft. The maximum load shedding is between 200MW and 250MW even though summer has started.