Power woes to ease as 2 new units will open soon: KPCL

Two new thermal power units with a capacity to generate 1,500 megawatt (MW) electricity will be commissioned in the state shortly. While a unit in Yeramarus Thermal Power Station in Raichur district will be opened in 20 days, another in Bellary Thermal Power Station will be commissioned by October.

At present, 120 power units at 31 centres are operating. Besides the new units, work on three more units is in the pipeline. Karnataka has an installed capacity of 17,413.90 MW and the KPCL has an installed capacity of 6,523.905 MW, Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd (KPCL) Managing Director G Kumar Naik told reporters here on Monday.

The state government has approved six more units and a proposal for 10 new projects  is  pending before it. The new projects are: Bidadi Combined Cycle Power Plant, Godhna and Edlapur Thermal Power Stations and Ghataprabha Dam Power House. With the new projects, which are planned at a cost of Rs 16,574 crore, the KPCL will be able to generate 3,120 MW electricity, he added.

The KPCL, Naik said, has also proposed Shivanasamudra Seasonal Scheme, Gundia Hydro Electric Project, Bidadi Combined Cycle Power Plant stage II, Tadadi Combined Cycle Power Plant and Gulbarga Thermal Power Project. The KPCL can generate 5,000 MW of power with the new projects. The thermal power plants need at least four years to complete, while gas power plants need a minimum of 24 months, the MD said.

Sharavathi plant

Naik said that all the units at the Sharavathi hydroelectric plant near Jog Falls in Shivamogga district, which were damaged in a fire accident in February, would resume operations soon.

“Out of the 10 units, six are already operating, two more will start generating power in two or three days and the remaining two are under construction, which will be completed within a month. We do not want to waste available resource (water) there and thus the works have been taken up in phases,” he added.

‘Bad year for KPCL’

Naik said the current year was “bad” for the KPCL due to deficit rainfall. “It would be a matter of concern for the KPCL if it doesn’t rain in the coming days. Eighty per cent of water inflow to dams is received in June, July and August. Compared to last year, the water levels are low,” he said. The KPCL, however, will be able to generate average power as two new units will be opened, he added.