Simhadri Power Plant Unit to go on stream

HYDERABAD: The 500-mw fourth unit of NTPC’s Simhadri thermal power station is all set to become operational in the early hours of Monday. The unit was commissioned on March 31 but had to be shut down due to some technical problem.
According to sources, the 1,000 MW of power generated from the two units (Units I and II) in the first stage is meant for use in Andhra Pradesh.
And the 1,000 MW of power produced in the two units (Units III and IV) in the second stage will be supplied to the following states: Andhra Pradesh (384.4 MW), Karnataka (176 MW), Kerala (80 MW), Tamil Nadu (197 MW) and Puducherry (10 MW).
About 150 mw remains unallocated.
The state power utilities have been looking eagerly for resumption of the fourth unit with the demand for power peaking with each passing day. Demand from the agricultural sector is quite high now because the Rabi operations are in full swing.
Besides, consumption is going up in the domestic and commercial sectors on account of the advancing summer. The agricultural sector, which consumes 30 per cent of the power generated in the state, will continue to exert pressure on the supply system till the end of this month when the Rabi operations will come to an end.
The pressure will somewhat ease in May, according to officials.
As on date, the power demand is 272 million units and the supply 243 million units. This gap will continue to be there till the end of this month which means there will be power cuts.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)