After a long delay, the first stage of 500-MW Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) will be commissioned in the first week of November.

According to Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) Technical Director Muralidhar Rao, the pre-commissioning activities have already begun. “About a week ago, we began the steam generation activity which will go on for a total of 20 days. Thereafter, oil synchronisation work will take a week. In all probability, the unit will be commissioned in the first week of November”, Mr Rao added.

Initially, the unit will generate 150 MW power. “The full scale generation of power  is expected to be achieved by February end or first week of March, 2008”, he added. The first stage will add 3,600 Million Units per annum to the grid.

Delay

The Rs 2,100 crore BTPS is the first mega power plant to be set up by the KPCL. The work had commenced in December 2003 and the first unit was scheduled to be commissioned in March 2007.

“But due to the delay in supplying the critical machinery such as boiler, cooler, turbine etc by the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), which was awarded the turn-key contract for executing the work, the commissioning got delayed”, Mr Rao pointed out.

Pipeline

The other major factor for the delay was laying a pipeline for a length of 35 kms from Marihalla to the newly laid pond at Kudtini. The power generated will be evacuated through the already existing 400 KV transmission line which connects to Bangalore via Davanagere sub-station.  

The KPCL has already placed orders with BHEL to set up the second 500-MW thermal plant on the same site, for which Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy laid the foundation stone on August 30.

The second unit is also scheduled to be synchronised in 36 months. It is estimated to cost around Rs. 2,092 crore.