Rs 800 crore on thermal plant repairs in Telangana

HYDERABAD: The Telangana State Power Generation Corporation Limited has spent Rs 800 crore on thermal power plants for repairs alone. Experts say that usually thermal plants are to decommissioned in 25 years.


Retired IFS official

M Padmanabha Reddy

told TOI, “the life of thermal power plants is normally 25 years, and after that, there is heavy maintenance cost and serious carbon emission problems.”

Central Electricity Authority (Thermal Project Planning & Development Division) in November 2016 had asked that all thermal plants which are 25 years be shut. TS Genco then told the Centre: “Due to a shortage of power in the state, we intend to operate these units. Required repairs were carried out by spending Rs 800 crore.”

The Central Electricity Authority opined that the units were generating

high heat rate

. As such 4x60 MW units could be retired in 2016-17 and 4x120 MW units may be withdrawn in a phased manner.

Padmanabha Reddy said, “Kothagudem Thermal Power Plant has eight units. Unit one and two are (above) 52 years old, and unit three and four are 51 years old, unit five and six are 44 years old, and seven and eight are 40 years old. Till 2016, TS Genco spent Rs 800 crore for repair on these units and during last two years also amounts were spent for repairs. This is a waste of public money. When plenty of power is available for purchase as stop-gap arrangement, why go after old plants.”