New Delhi: Four units, with a cumulative power generation capacity of 250 MW, at TPS-I of state-run Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC), have been retired, an official order from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) showed. These units are 2 (50 MW), 3 (50 MW), 4 (50 MW) and 8 (100 MW). The lignite power generation plant hit headlines earlier in May and then again in July after two blasts took place at two separate units of TPS-II. A total of 14 people were killed in the two separate incidents. However, none of the units at TPS-II have been retired.
Speaking to PSU Watch, an official spokesperson for NLC said, "None of the units at TPS-II have been retired. But they have been shut down for maintenance and safety audit. Only one unit at TPS-II is currently generating power." The TPS-II at NLC has a total of seven units. While the July blast took place at unit V of TPS-II, the May blast took place at unit VI of the same station.
According to CEA data, the TPS-I of NLC clocked a plant load factor (PLF) of 23.25 percent in July, down from 67.54 percent in the corresponding month of the previous year. On the other hand, the TPS-II registered a PLF of 17.78 percent in the aftermath of the blasts in July as opposed to 77.13 percent in the corresponding month of the year-ago period.
In the wake of the July blast incident, NLC's Director (Power) Shaji John had been asked to go on leave and the Unit Head of TPS-II was placed under suspension on July 4, an official statement released by the Ministry of Coal had said. A source, who spoke to PSU Watch, on the condition of anonymity, said that John has joined back since August first week.
The ministry had instituted a high-level inquiry committee, headed by NTPC's former Director (Technical) PK Mohapatra, to look into the cause of the incident. However, a report published by Down to Earth magazine in May had claimed that NLC was running old units that should have been retired between 2011-15 and there were delays in the commissioning of new units. Therefore, the risk factor in operating these units was always high. The claim has been rebutted by the NLC spokesperson, who told PSU Watch, that the TPS-II units have 10 more years of life on them. The probe reports, which would confirm whether this is true or not, are yet to be released.
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