Despite the commissioning of the 250 mw unit at Budge Budge, RPG group power utility CESC Ltd imported a record 2450 million units of energy from the West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB) last year.
The power utility's total sale of energy is believed to have crossed the 5000 million unit mark in 1997-98. Imports from the WBSEB and the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) still account for about 50 per cent its total sales.
However, CESC's imports are sure to show a downward trend from 1998-99 as the first Budge Budge unit stabilises its generation and the second 250 mw unit gets commissioned sometime in the last quarter of the year.
Imports from WBSEB had been 2317 mu in 1996-97, rising steadily from 1666 mu in 1997-98. Imports from DVC was around 360 mu last year, which was more or less the same as the 363 mu imported in 1996-97. During the last decade, the highest import of 419 mu from DVC had been in 1988-89.
The sole Budge Budge unit has performed rather indifferently according to data monitored by other agencies. Its generation since its commercial operation in September 1997 had been around 250 mu only. At a 68.5 per cent Plant Load Factor, a 250 mw generating unit should generate 1350 mu for a full year. When fully commissioned, the 2-unit 500 mw Budge Budge plant should generate around 2700 mu in a year to touch the 68.5 per cent PLF, which is the required minimum to claim the guaranteed rate of return at the time of tariff calculation.
CESC is believed to have generated about 4000 mu in 1997-98 including the 250 mu generation from Budge Budge. This reflects a slight improvement in performance from existing plants. During the last five years, generation from the two older stations at Mulajore and New Cossipore has fluctuated within the 1000-1100 mu band.
The 240 mw 4-unit Titagarh station has recorded an increase by about 200 mu in the last five years. The 2-unit 135 mw Southern station has generated within 800-1000 mu band.
The company's total generation from the existing four plants has not differed much from previous year's generation. In fact, the highest generation of about 3800 mu from the four existing plants in 1995-96 is yet to be bettered.
CESC's record import level of 2800 mu in 1997-98 can be totally eliminated by proper generation at Budge Budge alone. If the station is able to generate energy comparable to the Titagarh and Southern stations, the entire current shortfall can be met.
However, CESC is bound by an agreement to continue to import a minimum of 1750 mu from the Board. The agreement will remain valid till the new 500 mw project at Balagarh is commissioned. The company will be free from any obligation to import from the Board. The imports from the DVC may be stopped even earlier.
