Over 15,000 MW capacity plants stuck due to zero supply by RIL

Over 15,000 MW gas-based capacity is stranded in the country due to non supply of natural gas from RIL's KG basin.

"The total capacity of gas-based stations in India is 18,830 MW of which 15,529 MW is fed with gas from RIL. That (15,529 MW) is idle as there is no gas available from RIL, " an official told PTI.

The gas-based capacity which is lying idle due to want of fuel comprises central, state as well as private power plants.

Six of NTPC's seven gas-based power plants have zero gas available with them. The country's largest power producer's total gas-based capacity stands at 3,955 MW of which 3,605 MW is stranded due to lack of fuel, he said.

As many as 37 power stations in the country, which have tied up 33 MMSCMD (million standard cubic metres per day) gas from RIL's KG basin have nil fuel at their disposal, the official added.

The are 55 gas-based stations -- 14 (Andhra Pradesh), 12 (Gujarat), 6 (Tamil Nadu), 5 (Assam), 4 each in Delhi and Tripura, 3 each in Rajasthan and Maharashtra, 2 (Uttar Pradesh) and one each in Haryana and Puducherry.

All the 4 power gas-based power stations in capital Delhi are not receiving gas from RIL. As many as 10 power stations in Gujarat, 7 in Andhra Pradesh are also stranded for the same reason, the official said.

Private power generation company GMR Energy's 220 MW plant at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh has also not received supply from RIL, he said.

The beleaguered Ratnagiri project in Maharashtra with a capacity of 2,220 MW did not receive any natural gas from KG Basin, he added.

The supplies from KG-D6 block to power plants were snapped in March this year after output from the eastern offshore fields dropped to an all-time low.