Two power plants shut in Gujarat

Fall in temperatures, disruption in distribution network lead to decline in power demand

The demand for power in Gujarat has gone down by as much as 35 per cent on account of the arrival of the monsoons. The fall in demand is so drastic that the ministry of energy and petrochemicals has decided to stop power generation at some of the state-owned plants.

The demand for power in the state was 9175 MW on May 30, which has come down to 4867 MW on June 30.

The ministry has stopped the generation at the 215 MW Kutch (lignite based thermal) and the 215 MW Ukai (hydro power-based) plants. Units at Gandhinagar (870 MW installed capacity), Wanakbori (1470 MW) and Sikka (240 MW) are also not being utilised at full capacity. The 534 MW Dhuvaran coal-based thermal power station was not operational for a few days last week. It has begun operations on July 4.

With temperatures coming down from the high 40 degree Celcius mark, the use of air-conditioners and fans has come down significantly. Moreover, the damage to the distribution network of power companies owing to the rains has forced many parts of the state to go without power.

According to a senior official in the Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL), power supply to over 5,000 villages and 40 towns and cities has been affected, resulting in lower demand for power from those parts of the state. Nearly, 2000 feeders and 500 distribution transformers have become defunct.

Gujarat's minister for power and petrochemicals Saurabh Dalal, who was in Vadodara on Friday to superwise the relief work and review the damage caused to the state owned power bodies, said: "The electricity network in the state has suffered severely due to heavy rains in most parts of the state. At present, we are trying to ascertain the loss caused to the power companies. In view of the fall in demand for power, we have decided to stop operations at some of the power plant in the state."

However, no power plant has suffered from any damage due to rain. The power bodies in the state are working towards bringing the distribution network back to normal as soon as possible, informed Dalal.

P H Rana, managing director of Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Ltd, admitted that the distribution network has badly affected due to the rain in last one week in the state.

"The distribution network in the state has severely been affected in the state due to incessant rain for last one week. However, the state does not have any problem with unutilised power generated in the state due to the arrangement with National Thermal Power Corporation."