PALATANA/UDAIPUR,October 18 (TIWN): Technical experts of BHEL,OTPC and Sugex Oman found a single leakage in the Heat Recovery Steam Generator(HRSG) of the first unit of OTPCs 726.6MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine(CCGT) Thermal Power Plant in Palatana. At 11pm on Friday night the experts entered the HRSG through manhole and after carefully examining the HRSG they found a single leakage and thus the anxiety of a major leakage was over. As of now the experts are hopeful to start generation from the Unit-I from the midnight of 21st October. Thus, one can expect that during Diwali Unit-I of OTPC will generate in its full capacity(363.3MW).

At 10.30am the technical teams started to remove the water from boiler HRSG through its drainage system. And this too was completed within four hours. Fortunately the entire boiler won't have to be removed as only one leakage was found. From this evening the welding process will start and it is expected that welding will be completed by Saturday night itself. A top level OTPC engineer told TIWN over phone," After welding water can't be refilled instantly as there is a risk of the welding getting cracked. As such 9 to 10 hours time will be given to get the welding settle down. And after this water will be refilled in the HRSG boiler."

     From the midnight of 21st October( exactly from 00.00 hours) production from Unit-I will resume. This is surely a matter of boost especially to the organizers of Diwali Festival at MataBari. During Diwali there is huge demand of power especially in MataBari. And the shutdown in OTPCs Unit-I from the midnight of 16th October gave a serious cause of concern for them. Now with OTPC giving hope TSCEL really gives a sigh of relief .