MAHABUBNAGAR: The Srisailam Left Bank Hydropower Station (SLBHP), which caught fire two months ago, is all set to start production. The power unit is run by the Telangana state government.
Two turbines which were damaged in the fire have been repaired, said an official. Trial runs have been going on and from Monday the power plant will go on stream. With this, 300 megawatts of power would be generated, said M. Prabhakar Rao, chief engineer, SLBHP. The power plant was shut down on August 22 after the accident in which nine people died.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Rao said that the plant has a capacity to generate 900 MW of power by running six turbines of 150 MW each. The plant has lost 60 days of generation though the Srisailam reservoir has unprecedented floodwater. With the additional 300 MW power generated by hydropower, the supply position of the TS Generating Corporation (TS Genco) has eased quite a bit, Rao said.
The facility had been producing power continuously from July 20 till the time of the accident. The efficient use of generators is gained by on and off production rather than continuous running. Running the 900 MW unit for 30 days non-stop is unthinkable and would not be repeated in the future, said an engineer at the power utility.
