Power production in the 800 MW seventh unit of the Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS) commenced on Saturday night. This project has created a record as it has been completed in record time, ahead of stipulated timelines.
Telangana TRANSCO and GENCO Chairman and Managing Director, D Prabhakar Rao, commissioned power production in the plant located at Paloncha and facilitated synchronisation with the power grid in the presence of BHEL ED Mukhopadhyay. The company has prepared an action plan to commence commercial power production in the last week of July, after a trial run.
The seventh phase of the 800 MW plant will be remembered as a project on which work commenced after the formation of Telangana. Construction, taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 5,700 crore, commenced on February 1, 2015. This is the first plant that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao laid the foundation for after new state was formed.
The Central Electricity Agency (CEA) has stipulated a condition that new power plants should be completed in all aspects within 48 months of commencement. This plant has been completed within 40 months and has thus created a record.
KTPS power production has commenced on a trial run, and the total availability of power in Telangana has crossed 16,000 MW. Since this was completed within the stipulated time, the power that would be purchased from KTPS’ seventh phase will not attract IDC load.
Due to this, the power that is supplied from here will cost less and result in a Rs 300-crore financial benefit. GENCO CMD Rao said early completion was possible due to the support extended by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and due to dedicated workers.
The state government has managed to ensure power sector transformation from a power deficit to surplus state. After the implementation of KTPS unit seven, GENCO would focus on early completion and commissioning of two more major projects taken up after bifurcation -- the Bhadradri and Yadadri plants in the state.
While congratulating Genco on completion of the KTPS plant, the Chief Minister said the state could expedite work on projects and maintain quality of power plants as the contracts were awarded to public sector undertakings. The CM wanted CMD Rao to continue the momentum and ensures that Telangana remains a power surplus state.