Possible power-cut as Western Grid shuts 7,250 MW capacity
Power plants also shutting down due to technical glitches and coal shortage
New Delhi: Power generation capacity of 7,250 MW was shut in the Western Regional Grid on Wednesday, leading to speculations of significant electricity shortage in some parts of the country.
The Western Grid is responsible for supplying power to several states including the country’s most industrialised states Maharashtra and Gujarat.
The Western Regional Grid witnessed a loss in generation of 3,143 MW on August 26 as many plants have been affected by coal shortages, according to Western Regional Load Despatch Centre (WRLDC).
Total capacity of Western Regional Grid is about 4,550 MW. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chattishgarh, Goa, Daman and Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli comes under this grid.
"Generation availability in Western Regional Grid is severely affected on account of coal shortage reported by state/central/private power stations," WRLDC said in a communication.
Adani Power on Wednesday closed down at least six units at the Mundra plant reducing the overall electricity supply to the grid by 2,700 MW.
The generation availability has further reduced by 2,700 MW because of closing down of units at Mundra project.
Unit 2, 3 and 4, each having 330 MW capacity, have been shut "reportedly on coal shortage" while units 7,8 and 9, each having 660 MW capacity closed down "reportedly on account of payment default of Haryana utilities," WRLDC said.
Unit 2, 3 and 4, each having 330 MW capacity, have been shut "reportedly on coal shortage" while units 7,8 and 9, each having 660 MW capacity closed down "reportedly on account of payment default of Haryana utilities," WRLDC said.
When contacted, the Adani Group declined to comment. The group's Mundra project has five units of 660 MW each and four units of 330 MW each.
In a statement, Tata Power said its Mundra plant was maintaining the declared generation capacity. The 4,000 MW plant has five units, each having a capacity of 800 MW.
Coastal Gujarat Power Ltd (CGPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, is implementing the project.
"Unit #2 of the UMPP has been down due to a boiler tube leakage while Unit #4 got down due to re-heater isolator leakage today evening. 2,400 MW is functional," the statement said.
Meanwhile, WRLDC, which manages the Western grid, has asked all constituents to maximise the available generation and or regulate load to maintain their drawal within their schedule in the interest of grid security.