The Centre's apathy over providing gas to the proposed 1,220MW project at Uran near Mumbai is becoming a headache for power-starved Maharashtra.
“We are concerned about our proposed power projects. Today, we don't have the right kind of coal. We are uncertain about the future of our proposed thermal projects. At the same time, the Centre has also not assured us of allocating gas for the Uran project,” state utility Mahagenco's managing director Subrat Ratho said.
MahaGenco plans to set up a 1,220MW gas-based combined cycle power plant, with two units of 406MW and 814MW each, at Uran in Raigad district.
The company has received all the statutory clearances. Land and water too are available. “What we don't have is the assurance of gas. We can float tenders in the next 15 days, but we cannot do it unless we get assurance from the Centre about gas allocation,” Ratho said.
He pointed out that the state does not have a potential for generating electricity from hydel sources. “We pay the highest income tax....Therefore, we are asking the Centre to allocate us gas on priority, so that we can start the plant in two years.”
MahaGenco had proposed to commence Block I (406MW) by March 2014 and Block II (814MW) by June 2014. At present, the total generation capacity of MahaGenco is 9,737MW, of which 66.55% (6,480MW) comes from thermal plants.
From gas-based plants, it generates 672MW, and from hydropower plants, 2,585MW. It had a target of generating 4,000MW in October, but has fallen short by 500MW so far due to coal shortage.
“New Parli (250MW) and Khaperkheda (500MW) do not have adequate coal stock....
We have not been able to supply power to Mahavitaran (state-run discom). As a result, citizens are facing load shedding,” Ratho said.
