PALATANA / UDAIPUR, August 20 (TIWN): As requested by North Eastern Regional Load Despatch Contre(NERLDC) OTPC has postponed the scheduled Major Inspection of the Gas Turbine of Unit-I upto 10am on Wednesday. As scheduled the Complete shut down was yo start from 00.00, hours on Wednesday. But on request from NERLDC , OPTC ultimately has postponed the Major Inspection. It is learnt that the experts from Philippines and India will arrive Palatana by Wednesday and start the inspection. It is expected that within two years time the plant is expected to reach its full-fledged power generation capacity(726.6MW).

The fifteen days long complete shutdown will continue up to 3rd September as OTPC has set the target to resume power generation from the midnight of 4th September. It means that during these fifteen days long compulsory Major Inspection Tripura is bound to face acute power crisis; already under severe shortage power supply due to the fall in internal power generation. At present Tripura's internal generation is around 60-65MW while the Peak Hour demand of the state is around 215-220MW. From the Central Pool state is getting around 40-45MW.

  At this situation when OTPC is bound to go for complete shut down for fifteen days, one would easily imagine how much the northeastern states, especially Tripura will be affected by power cuts. Tripura gets 92-95MW from North Easter Load Dispatch Centre (NERLDC) as its share of OTPC. Even on Monday night OPTC was generating 350MW (at 8.30pm on 18th August). CMD of Tripura State Electricity Corporation Ltd (TSECL) Shyamal Kr Roy told TIWN over phone ," We initially requested the OTPC to start this inspection after the Unit-II gets operational. As of now it seems that Unit-II won't start generation from Unit-II before Durga Puja.

And for OTPC it is now almost needed to start the inspection. "However, the CMD S K Roy expressed," We are trying to cover up the shortage. People will have to co-operate with us. But what can one expect to do when around 3 lakh out of 6 lakh Domestic Consumers' bills are pending? At present TSECL is having the lack of adequate fund due to non- payment of electricity bills regularly." He said that still TSECL is trying to manage with the situation.

     Meanwhile a top level OTPC engineer told TIWN on Monday night," The major inspection will start at 00.00 hours on Tuesday (August 20 midnight as it is scheduled). It takes 15 days to complete the First Time Major Inspection of Gas Turbine (which is compulsory after 8000 hours of continuous operation). And the Second Time Major Inspection is generally conducted after 24000 hours on continuous operation. But in regard to the OTPC the manufacturer of Gas Turbine - a USA based (Atlanta to be precise) General Electric Company will conduct the Second Time Inspection after 2 years (probably in September-October 2016).

 "Speaking about the ongoing process the Engineer adds," Actually during Major Inspection Gas Combustion chamber is examined thoroughly and already two experts from General Electric Company is stationed in OTPC site and it is expected that by Wednesday noon a 30 members team of engineers and technicians of General Electric will arrive at Palatana. The team comprises of specialist engineers and technicians for conducting Major Inspection of Gas Turbine. The entire process of Major Inspection will be done under the instruction of the team of engineers and technicians of General Electric."

        OTPC MD S K Dube too will remain in Tripura during these fifteen days to monitor round the clock activities. It is learnt that S K Dube will arrive in Palatana on Wednesday morning. A BHEL engineer told TIWN that some of hardware machineries of Gas Turbine will be replaced during the compulsory test. TSECL CMD Shyamal Kr Roy told TIWN on a telephonic conversation," The unit-8 of Rukhia is learnt to start production from 19th August but the Unit-9 will take around twenty to twenty five days to recovery.

Actually some instruments are to replaced and they are now being brought from Hyderabad. It is really very good news that already the trucks carrying these instruments have set off from Hyderabad. Within ten to twelve days they will be reaching Rukhia and then the technicians may take ten days more to install them."

      When asked about the possibility of Commercial Generation from Unit-II of OTPC TSECL CMD said," As of now we can hope that OTPC will start production from Unit-II after Durga Puja. Actually you cannot predict on such a mega project. "But TIWN has been authenticated by one of the top OTPC officials that the Unit-II can't start Commercial Generation before December end. The official told TIWN over phone," Make it clear, ONGC cannot start gas supply to Unit-II before Durga Puja unless a miracle happens overnight. Even if the gas supply starts by October OTPC & BHEL engineers will have to give at least 45 days time to make the Unit-II ready for Commercial Generation.

     And it means it will be mid December by then. Can you expect to start generation within 2014?" When asked about the Chief Minister's invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the Commercial Generation of Unit II, the official reacted," Well you all saw what happened with Unit-I. And now BHEL won't take any risk after their horrible experience in June 2013. However, if the Prime Minister indeed comes here this year to inaugurate the Commercial Generation from unit-II this will certainly be the greatest miracle of the year in India."