Punjab Power Minister Harbhajan Singh on Saturday stated that notwithstanding the unprecedented power demand, PSPCL has been supplying uninterrupted power to all sections of consumers in the State.
The Minister said that the State had witnessed unprecedented demand for power due to sharp rise in temperature since March this year in comparison to last year. “During April 2022, PSPCL has met upto 10000 MW peak power demand, which was 46 % higher than April 2021. This extraordinary power demand has continued unabated in May 2022, and 10900 MW peak demand has been met by the PSPCL which was over 60% higher than May 2021”, he added. Despite this no power cut is being imposed on any category of consumers and supply to agriculture pumpsets is also being given as per schedule, said the Minister.
In a statement, the Power Minister stated that all the thermal units in the state are in running condition or available except one unit of GHTP Lehra Mohabbat, which has been shut down last night due to technical snag. Both the units of NPL Rajpura are operational and 3rd TSPL unit of 660 MW closed for annual overhauling is scheduled to start generation this evening. All the four units of GGSSTP Ropar are available and one unit remains on standby to conserve coal for forthcoming paddy season as relatively cheaper power is available in the exchange. Further, two units of GHTP Lehra Mohabbat are currently running and one unit is on standby.
He said that on Friday night, Lehra Mohabbat Unit No 2 of 210 MW developed a technical snag in its Electrostatic Precipitators, for which CMD PSPCL had visited the plant for on-the-spot assessment. Team of BHEL Engineers from Chandigarh have also reached the site and BHEL experts from head office and design engineers from Ranipet would reach Lehra Mohabbat tomorrow to assess the damage and to provide help to revive the unit at the earliest. A committee has been formed to analyse the causes of the snag and to take remedial action along with BHEL engineers, said the Minister.
"PSPCL has been directed to make adequate arrangements for coal and power required in the state during paddy season and our officers are in regular touch with Union Power and Coal Ministries", he added.