A dozen power units in the state are completely shut and have stopped producing electricity in the wake of sharp reduction in power demand in the past few weeks. Officials attribute the low demand for power, particularly from agricultural sector, to widespread rainfall in the state.
The total installed power generation in the state is to the tune of 13,354 MW. However, the state has been producing less than 10,000 MW for the past few days due to the reduced demand.
According to officials, while 12 power generation units are totally shut, six other units are operating at significantly lower capacities in view of reduced demand. Some of the units have planned shutdown, while most have been forced to cut power generation. The affected units operate on different fuels such as lignite, gas and coal.
"As of Monday morning, a total of 3,824 MW less power is being produced due to low demand. While 953 MW of the power outage is planned reduction, we are in a position to start generation of more than 2,050 MW power from the next minute," said an official in state energy ministry. State energy minister Saurabh Patel confirmed that power production had been significantly scaled down, but refused to elaborate further.
The power demand from farm sector has fallen from 59 million units in early August to 10 million units as of now.
The official informed that more than 800 MW of power generation stoppage was forced due to a variety of technical reasons. This includes units of Ukai hydro power station, Kutch lignite thermal power unit, Wanakbori thermal power station among others.
One of the units is shut from the second half of July, while most of the units are shut since mid and late August. More than 600 MW of power generation was curbed since the beginning of September. Nine power units of state government utilities, including Utran gas-based power plant, Sikka thermal power station, Gandhinagar thermal power station, Ukai thermal power station and Wanakbori thermal power station, are among those that are completely shut.
Among private sector companies, the units of Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited (GIPCL) and Essar were also completely shut. Officials said that there is no point in continuing to generate power when there are no buyers.
