Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Oct 7: Out of the eight thermal power units of Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS), three have suspended operations and only five continue to produce power. The total power output of the station has plunged to 700 mw. These five units have enough stocks of coal to run for two days, and no one knows what will happen if the stocks are not replenished by then.

RTPS sources said that  all the units will stop generation of power if coal stocks are not received within two days. The third, eighth, and fourth units of RTPS are under repairs because of technical snags. The eighth unit, which was commissioner recently, has failed to produce any power so far.

The units used to receive coal from Thalassery and West Coast Mines once in two days, but the arrival of coal has stopped from these sources now. The above five units have capacity to generate 1,050 mw of power, but on account of poor quality of coal, shortage, technical problems etc, their generation is restricted to 700 mw, sources in RTPS said.

The state, which has resorted to load shedding to manage the situation, will need to take stringent steps to overcome the problem. The government’s effort to buy power from other sources has also not succeeded to the extent expected.