Ratnagiri Gas and Power Co resumes operation

Mumbai, May 1: The Ratnagiri Gas and Power Private Ltd (RGPPL) has commissioned the first gas turbine from the plant's block 2 module and is hoping to generate 100 MW of electricity on a 24 hour basis from today.

RGPPL Chairman and Managing Director Chandan Roy told sources that the module comprises two gas turbines and one steam turbine. The commisioned turbine is known as 'GT-2A' and the synchronisation of the entire plant will be completed by the mid of May.

The process is for commissioning the second gas turbine and the steam turbine, he said.

As per the schedule between May 5-11, about 300 MW would be produced and the generation will gradually increase to about 630 MW by the middle of May, he added.

According to sources in Mahavitaran, state's power distribution company, state government will purchase the power at Rs 4.25 paise per unit.

The fuel being used is Naphta, the sources added.

The fuel was lying at the plant site since the project was winded up in 2002. The fuel could be of use for RGPPL for about 50-55 days sources added.

The generation of 100 MW power from RGPPL will bring slight relief to the acute power crisis in the state which is the sole buyer of RGPPL power at present.

RGPPL, earlier known as Dabhol Power Company (DPC), was one of India's biggest and most controversial power plants. The Dabhol power project started by Enron was shut down in 2001, owing to a long running legal battle between Maharashtra and Enron over high power tariffs. After being mired in legal and political controversies, the plant, located in Ratnagiri district in south of Maharashtra begins generating power again under a new name after a gap of nearly five years.

It was activated yesterday when one of the gas turbine of the plant completed the synchronisation process and started supplying power to the western grid.

With legal controversies resolved, the project is now a wholly-owned Indian project with NTPC, GAIL, Indian financial institutions and the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB) being the main equity holders.

The power generated from RGPPL will help tackle state's huge power crisis.

However, the relief will be very marginal considering the huge deficit in the demand and supply, Mahavitaran sources said.

The DPC project, shut down in May 2001 following a power tariff dispute between its promoter Enron Corporation and only customer, the MSEB.

The project has a total generation capacity of 2,184 MW.

The cost of generation from the erstwhile Dabhol Power Plant at the time of its shutdown in May 2001 was Rs 8.75 per kilo-watt-hour which was mainly on account of a rise in Naphtha price, which increased the variable cost of power.

UNI