NEYVELI | December 7, 2015:
All three mines in NLC have been flooded following heavy rains.- Photo: T. Singaravelou
Lignite excavation and power generation in Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) continue to remain affected with all the mines flooded due to incessant rains across Cuddalore district over the last few days. According to a NLC official, power generation on Wednesday was a meagre 540 MW against installed capacity of 2,990 MW.
All the three mines at Neyveli have been flooded following heavy rain. With lignite extraction at a standstill, thermal stations are being operated much below their capacity affecting the power generation.
Around 140 MW was generated at Thermal Power Station I Expansion, against the installed capacity of 420 MW, while 400 MW was generated in Thermal Power Station II against its installed capacity of 600 MW.
Power generation has been curtailed due to scheduled maintenance in one unit of TPS I Expansion and limited stock of lignite in the bunkers, the official said.
The management has also switched off the conveyor belt system that carries lignite to the thermal stations because of heavy rainfall since November 9. A contingency plan has been put in place and lignite excavation and power generation would resume shortly.
Meanwhile, the district administration has directed NLC not to pump out excess water from the mines due to a threat of flooding in the nearby villages.
Sources in NLC said the conveyor belt in the mines was submerged due to unprecedented rain and it would take at least one-and-a-half months to resume regular power generation. The management has planned to slowly commence excavation of lignite once the water level recedes in the Mines.
Though NLC has the machinery to pump out the excess water in the mines within three days it was adopting a cautious approach due to complaints of alleged flooding in the nearby villages.
As per the power sharing agreement Tamil Nadu is entitled to 45 per cent of power, 11 per cent each to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, 3 per cent to Puducherry and 8 per cent to Neyveli Township.
(Source: http://www.thehindu.com/)