Economic Times reported that West Bengal Power Development Corporation is toying with the idea of retrofitting its coal fuelled thermal power plants with equipment that can make them run also on gas.
The corporation is in talks with Development Consultants in this regard. Simultaneously, WBPDCL is also in talks with Gail for supply of gas to these proposed retro fitted units as well as future new units.
Mr Debasis Sen MD of WBPDCL said that “We are in talks with Gail for supply of gas to our proposed units at Sagardighi and existing units at Bandel and Kolaghat. In case it works out, we will build 2 gas based units at Sagardighi. These will be the 5th and the 6th units at the site. Simultaneously we have asked DCPL to look at the engineering possibilities of retrofitting existing units at Bandel and Kolaghat, so that they can also run on gas partly, apart from the conventional coal fuel.”
WBPDCL has a 450 mw generating capacity at Bandel. These consists of four 60 MW units and a 210 MW unit. Kolaghat on the other hand has 6 units of 210 MW each totaling 1,260 MW. These units are quite old and require very high quality coal to run them. WBPDCL’s cost for running some of these units have in fact doubled in the recent past after they started buying high quality under ground coal extracted by CIL at cost plus basis.
Following talks with Gail officials, WBPDCL has been given to understand that a gas will be available in West Bengal by 2012. This will assure gas transmission capability. But we need to look at the issues of availability and allocations.
Meanwhile, WBPDCL’s Sagardighi unit 3 & 4 are at an advanced stage of commissioning. This would be the state’s first mega power project and will receive customs and import duty exemptions.
Mr Sen said that “We have already concluded the detailed project report, achieved financial closure and have received coal linkage for the project. Tenders for the project have also been invited for the project. We expect to start ground work by May 2010 and commission the plant by 2014.”
(Sourced fro ET)
