Tribune news service
Chandigarh, November 3
Punjab braced for massive power outages on Tuesday after running out of power completely, and the state’s coal reserves were completely depleted as a result of the prolonged suspension of freight supply trains by the railways.
As the daytime power shortage increased to 1,000-1,500 MW, and the last of the state’s power plants, GVK Thermal, also ran out of power, the Department of Energy has had no choice but to impose power outages. power to all residential, commercial, and agricultural consumer buildings beginning Tuesday night.
According to a government spokesperson, daytime demand in the state currently stands at about 5,100-5,200 MW and nighttime demand is about 3,400 MW. The supply, on the other hand, is totally inadequate and only the load of vegetable feeders (800 MW) from Energía Agrícola (AP) is supplied for 4-5 hours during the day every day. The other AP load is currently negligible (around 300 MW).
The situation, the spokesperson said, was grim as PSPCL was left without generation control and market power rates continued to be highly volatile and could increase further at any time, resulting in an increase in the cost of purchasing energy, in which the state is now completely dependent to power its wires.
Due to the increase in market rates that led to lower power liquidation of the previous day, load shedding had to be carried out today on all AP / Vegetable and Urban Pattern Power Supplies (UPS) on rural feeders early in the morning. Otherwise, too, load shedding is now taking place regularly on various feeders in the state after 4pm, for 4-5 hours every day, while the PA / vegetable supply is also regularly reducing the spokesman said.
Giving details, the spokesperson said the situation worsened today, when GVK’s only unit (2×270 MW) that was operational around 12 noon headed to close at 5 p.m., when coal stocks were scheduled to be closed. completely exhausted. Other private thermal plants – NPL (2×660 MW) and TSPL (3×660 MW) have already exhausted their coal supplies and are out of operation.
The state-owned Ropar and Lehra Mohabbat thermal plants (4x210MW + 2x210MW + 2x250MW = 1760 MW) are also currently packed. However, one unit at each of these plants will be synchronized tonight to compensate for the loss of generation from GVK and provide stability to the system, the spokesperson said.
By the way, under normal circumstances, daytime demand in the state is generally satisfied from the following sources:
Public Sector Central Stations (Punjab Share / Long Term Power) – 2,500 MW
Own hydroelectric plants (375)
GVK Thermal (1 unit) – 250 MW
Renewable (mainly solar during the day) – 450 MW
Buy on Power Exchange / Tenders – 2700 MW
After deducting the state government’s daytime banking obligation of approximately 1,070 MW, this totals 5,200 MW, which is enough to meet the average daily power demand in the state during the day under normal circumstances.
