Power generation was suspended at the 210 MW unit (Unit IV) of the Mettur Thermal Power Station’s old plant on Sunday morning, following a shortage of coal.
This is the second time in the last fortnight that power generation has been affected at the MTPS for want of coal.
Official sources said MTPS had four units (4 x 210 MW), and the old plant and the second plant had a production capacity of 600 MW.
Two units of the first plant, with a production capacity of 420 MW (2 x 210 MW), were shut down on September 16, and the new plant, with a production capacity of 600 MW, was closed down three days later.
The shutdown affected production of a total of 1,020 MW.
However, additional stock of coal was received from Odisha following Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palaniswami’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Electricity Minister P. Thangamani’s meeting with Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. The Railways made arrangements for sending coal to Tamil Nadu in 16 rakes. Following the arrival of additional stocks, the MTPS attained its full generation capacity on September 24. However, coal shortage had reared its head once again, leading to the suspension of production in unit IV on Sunday.
Sources said there was also reduced power generation at the second plant and at the other three units of the first plant during day time. While only 380 MW could be generated at the second plant, only 540 MW was possible at the other three units of the old plant.
Incidentally, on Saturday, Mr. Thangamani had said that the thermal power stations of Tangedco in the State had adequate coal stock.
He said that the State had appealed to the Railway Ministry to send coal in 20 rakes instead of the present 16 rakes to improve the stock position at the thermal plants.
North Chennai plant
Senior Tangedco officials said two units had been shut at the North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTS). NCTS has a total capacity of 1,830 MW (2*600 MWt and 3*210 MW), of which one 600 MW unit and one 210 MW unit have been shut.
An official claimed that the units had been shut due to reduction in power consumption. He said while on Saturday the demand was 13,500 MW, on Sunday, it was in the region of 12,500 to 12,800 MW. Since it was a weekend and since the southern parts of the State witnessed good rainfall, the demand was low, he added.
Meanwhile, the third unit of the TTPS was stopped on Friday, owing to reduced demand. About 10 days ago, the first unit was stopped. Power production was reduced by 420 MW.