PALATANA/UDAIPUR, September 22 (TIWN Exclusive): Preparations to make the Unit-II of 726.6MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine(CCGT) Thermal Power Plant of OTPC have been deferred as the Purge Valve in the Gas Turbine's Gas Supply Line has gone out of order, confirmed a top level OTPC official on Sunday night. Earlier it was scheduled that the BHEL technicians would start pre- Commercial Generation (COG) activities. But on Thursday it was found that the Purge Valve is not working. It is a crucial valve, as it remains out of order, Gas supply to the Gas Turbine of Unit-II will not be possible. At once BHEL deferred the scheduled Pre-COG activities.

It is learnt that BHEL technicians are now trying to repair it. But a Senior Engineer told TIWN," The Purge Valve had gone out of order even before, at that time also it was repaired. And now it seems that it has to be replaced. However, final decision will be taken after Asst. General Manager of BHEL B K Bhora returns from Hyderabad." B K Bhora is now in Hyderabad as he has gone there to bring some spare parts needed for Unit-II from BHEL's Manufacturing Unit . These spare parts have been used in the Unit-I when the Unit-I was suffering in 2013 after the inauguration of COG from Unit-I (363.3MW). A BHEL engineer said," B K Bhora is most likely to return by Tuesday and he has assured that some of the spare parts have already been despatched from the Manufacturing unit of BHEL, Hyderabad."

    It is learnt that by Tuesday morning a clear picture regarding the over all pre-COG activities will be known. As of now it is learnt that BHEL wants to start the pre-COG activities by Tuesday and if it begins, BHEL wiil continue this process up to 29th of September. But from 30th September to 5th October such activities will remain stand still as Durga Puja will be observed then and at that time uninterrupted power supply will have to be maintained across the state. TIWN sources also adds that from 6th October the process will resume. An OTPC engineer told TIWN ," We are working now with a target of starting the Commercial Generation(COG) from mid October. And if it gives desired results , this plant will be producing its full capacity power even before January 2015."