PATNA: Bihar is likely to face acute power crisis during this summer. NTPC’s power plant (200 MW) at Farakka (unit-3) has already been shut down for annual maintenance since April 1 for a period of 35 days.
NTPC’s another plant (500 MW) at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district is non-functional due to the shortage of coal since April 10. Bihar’s lone thermal power station at Barauni in Begusarai district is almost non-operational since March 17. It hardly generates few MWs of power a few days in a month, said an official.
Bihar’s joint venture power plant which is currently under renovation and maintenance is closed since November 3, last year. Bihar received a meager — approximately 1200 MW — of power on Friday from the Central sector as against its sanctioned allocation of 1,772 MW. In addition, Bihar received 500 MW of power from the open market.
To minimize the impending crisis during summer, the BSEB has purchased additional 500 MW of power from March 01 through power trading agreement.
According to official sources, the BSEB, through mid-term agreement at the rate of Rs 4.41 per unit, got 200 MW power from Ahmedabad-based Adani Powers Limited, one of the largest private sector thermal power producers in the country, from March 1, 2012, and this agreement will be in place till December 31, 2015.
The remaining 300 MW of power, BSEB got it from NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited from March 1, 2012, and will do so till August 31, 2012.
Out of the total availability of approximately 1,700 MW of power, Patna Electric Supply Undertaking (Pesu) has been allocated 500 MW of power to meet its demands. The BSEB has to give additional 365 MW of power to emergency services like the railways, Nepal, border areas, power sub-stations and industries, said BSEB spokesman H R Pandey.
As a result, major parts of Bihar, including Patna, witnessed frequent power cuts during peak evening hours.
Bihar has already sought from the Centre additional 500 MW of power. Bihar has also demanded maximum allocation from the hydel power projects developed in Bhutan by the GOI.
The quality of coal is also a major concern for the power stations. The cost of imported and indigenous coal has increased considerably in the recent years. This has resulted in steep rise in the coal prices.
The BSEB has also signed power purchase agreement for procurement of 450 MW of power from Essar Power ( Jharkhand) Limited. It is expected to commence from July 9, 2014.
“The residents will not have to suffer prolong and frequent power cuts this summer. A new grid sub-station at Sampatchak would also be ready by the end of May,” said Pandey.