The Hindu : RTPS unit to be commissioned in Jan.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 12, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

RTPS unit to be commissioned in Jan.

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Dec. 11. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, has expressed disappointment over the expected private sector participation in power generation failing to materialise.

He was speaking to presspersons in connection with the synchronisation of the seventh unit of the Raichur Thermal Power Station in his capacity as the Chairman of the Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL). Congratulating the KPCL, he said that it had achieved a new milestone in power generation in the country by synchronising the seventh unit in 26 months, nine weeks ahead of schedule.

Mr. Krishna also had a videoconference with the Managing Director of the corporation, K. Jothiramalingam, and senior engineers who were at the unit this afternoon.

He announced that the Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sonia Gandhi, would formally dedicate the seventh unit to the nation and lay the foundation stone of the eighth unit of the RTPS next month.

The Chief Minister said that with the private sector backing out, the Government had to depend on the public sector to set up power generating units. It was unfortunate that the American power generating companies with which talks had been held had been wound up or were out of business, as a result of the economic problems in that country.

To a question, he said that the Government had entered into agreements with both the Union Government and the World Bank about carrying out reforms in the power sector.

But he asserted that the Government had the prerogative to reject the advice of the World Bank if it was found to be unacceptable.

With the synchronisation of the Rs. 613 crore unit, an additional 210 MW of power would be generated in the State, taking the total to 4,350 MW. Work on the seventh unit was started on October 15, 2000, and it was originally scheduled to be completed by February 15, 2003.

Mr. Krishna said that it was a national record for the KPCL to propose "coal firing within 72 hours after synchronisation unlike the stabilisation period of six months till now". Mr. Jothiramalingam told the Chief Minister said that the fifth unit of RTPS too was completed in a record 28 months.

Power situation

The Chief Minister said that despite the completion of the seventh unit of RTPS, the power availability situation was one of concern. He was encouraged by the track record of the KPCL and wanted it to take up the Bellary thermal power plant. He asked Mr. Jothiramalingam what steps he had taken with regard to the Bellary plant.

The official said that discussions were being held with the BHEL for the supply of equipment for the proposed plant, which they expected to take up by the end of the month.

Mr. Krishna said the power shortage in the State this year was on account of insufficient rains.

The shortfall had to be made up by buying power from outside. Though power was available, the problem was one of cost, he added.

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RTPS unit to be commissioned in Jan.