Kothagudem: The 800-MW seventh stage of the Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS), which will be synchronised on June 30, has been completed in a record 40 months, eight months earlier than the target date. The Central Electricity Authority has stipulated that construction of new power plants should be completed in 48 months, but the Telangana state Genco finished the work on the seventh stage in just 40 month. Power from the plant should be flowing into the state power grid soon.
The seventh phase, constructed by BHEL, also set a record as the only plant in the country which has paid less interest on its loans since projects that are delayed always cost more. The Rs 5,250-crore seventh phase of the KTPS is the first power plant to be set up after the formation of Telangana state. Work started on June 1, 2015 on the seventh phase. Trial runs have been going on for the past few months. Once this phase becomes operational, generation available in the state would be more than 15,000 MW.
Telangana Genco chairman and managing director D. Prabhakar Rao said, "All the staff including engineers worked well and completed the project in record time. Telangana state will be able to produce 17,000 MW by the end of 2018." KTPS, which is the power hub in Telangana, has been producing 1,660 MW from its six units so far. This will go up to 2,460 MW with the addition of the seventh phase. KTPS commenced operations in 1966, generating 60 MW.
The Bhadradri Thermal Power Project at Manuguru will also be ready soon for commissioning; it has four units, each producing 270 MW. When the state was created, the installed capacity was 6,574 MW, with a deficit of 2,700 MW. The state was able to produce additional power of 7,981 MW. Referring to the purchase of power from Chhattisgarh, Mr Prabhakar Rao said, "Telangana is not purchasing additional power from Chhattisgarh. We are getting it as part of the power purchase agreement signed with Chhattisgarh for 12 years."
