Palatana shut down causes power shortage in NE

Agartala, August 21, 2014: As per schedule, the ONGC Tripura Power Company Ltd (OTPC) has switched off the first unit of Palatana power plant for undertaking routine maintenance in presence of engineers from US-based General Engineering (GE) Company causing severe power shortage in some NE States including Assam and Tripura.

The routine maintenance, which is expected to be completed by September 5, has already started under the supervision of GE and BHEL engineers at Palatana plant, 65 km from here.

As per the guideline, the turbines need routine maintenance after running for 8,000 hours and we are bound to undertake the process, said an official of OTPC here on Thursday. Next shut down is supposed to take place after running the plant for 24,000 hours. That means, the next routine shut down will be due in 2016.

Power deficit has already touched 100 MW in Tripura following the shut down of Palatana’s first unit and the State is facing a severe power crisis, according to sources. “To tide over the power crisis, we are buying power from Central pool at high rate. Power situation will not improve until Palatana resumes operation after the routine maintenance”, said Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL) CMD SK Roy here today.

The State produces only 50/60 MW power despite the potential in setting up a combine cycle thermal power project by using natural gas.

Source: Assam Tribune