Snags cripple five thermal units, power crisis looms

Jaipur: Rajasthan is facing power crisis again. This time, not because of the coal crisis but due to several thermal power units developing technical snags simultaneously. The situation eased on Friday after the revival of monsoon which brought down the temperature by a few notches and 660 MW Chhabra super critical station resumed its operations.
It is to be noted that keeping in view the prevailing power crisis in the state, the annual maintenance (2022-23) of 10 units has been postponed. It has been decided that the minimum and necessary maintenance-related activities of these units will be carried out only during closure due to technical reasons.
Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd said that presently out of total 23 thermal units of Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam, 18 units (5550 MW) are operational while as on Friday, five units (2030 MW) were closed due to technical reasons.
Super critical unit no. 8 located at Suratgarh with a capacity of 660 MW has been closed for a short period for urgent repair works. It is hoped the work would be completed soon and the plant would start operations soon.
Besides, the remaining four units of the 1,370 MW capacity (660 MW and 250 MW units of Suratgarh, 250 MW unit of Chhabra and 210 MW unit of Kota) are closed for a long time due to serious damage/faults.
Efforts are being made by BHEL and they are expected to start production by September end or October, said officials.