Maintenance by ONGC to hit Mumbai power supply

ONGC plans to shut down its gas platform at Uran.

ONGC's plans to shut down its gas platform at Uran for maintenance could mean a generation loss of around 600 Mw.

The plant supplies power to state-owned power utility Mahagenco's power 400 Mw plant at Uran and TPC's 180 Mw plant.

This will aggravate the power situation in the state which is already reeling from power shortage to the tune of 5,000 Mw.

To ensure that this doesn't happen, Maharashtra Energy Minister Dileep Walse-Patil has written to Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora asking him to give directions to the ONGC that they should postpone their plans to shut down the gas platform till monsoon.

Confirming that such a letter has been written by Walse-Patil to Deora, a senior official from the state government's energy ministry said, "Shutting down of the platform was not for 1 or two days but for carrying out repairs and it would take ONGC around one to one and half month."

ONGC wanted to shut down the plant from April 2 but on our request they have agreed to postpone it till 25th of this month but for extending it beyond 25th, we have to write to the ministry and get them to instruct ONGC to this effect, he added.

It was also learnt that last year too, the ONGC could not shut down its platform for maintenance due to a similar situation and this year ONGC is not willing to oblige as it fears that if maintenance is not carried out it will result in a breakdown.