Cabinet approves decommissioning of 4 coal-based power units

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) The Delhi Cabinet today approved the decommissioning of four coal-based units presently in operation at IP Thermal Power Station and closure of the I P Station after the commissioning of 500 MW units at Badarpur power station.

However, the loss in installed capacity would be compensated by the capacity addition of around 750 MW Gas Based Power Plant at Bamnauli.

Briefing mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said four coal-based units at I P Thermal Power Station with combined generation capacity of 247.5 MW would be decommissioned as soon as the commercial operation of 500 MW units of Badarpur Power Station begins.

The Cabinet has also decided to incur only very essential expenditure on the existing units for safe operation till its closure and initiate action for disposal of plants and machinery.

She added that two units at IP Thermal Power Station have outlived their lives as they were in operation for about 40 years and the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had permitted continuation of the existing coal-based IP Power Station till December 31, 2010.

Even the consultant appointed by the Department of Power, Delhi has concluded that the plant had become unviable for further operation in its present condition and any investment for improvement of generation level of the plant will not be techno-economically feasible.

Mrs Dikshit further said in view of decommissioning of the existing coal-based units her Government would initiate action for capacity addition by 750 MW Gas Based Power Plant at Bamnauli.

UNI