Dpl In Modernisation Pact For Upgradation

Powerplant Perf- ormance Improv- ement Ltd (PPIL) has signed an agreement for renovation and modernisation of the five thermal power generating units of Durgapur Projects Ltd (DPL). PPIL, a joint venture between Siemens and Bhel, will complete the Rs 363 crore project in 29 months. The upgradation project aims to increase the plant load factor (PLF) and plant availability to over 68.5 per cent and 80 per cent respectively.

This in turn will raise the installed capacity of the plant to over 400 mw.

DPL has also signed an agreement with Power Finance Corporation (PFC) for the funding of the project up to Rs 286 crore. This is the first time that PFC is funding a renovation and modernisation project of this magnitude.

The five DPL units were commissioned some 30 years back. The first two units are of 30 mw each and the others of 75 mw each. The agreement between DPL and PPIL was signed by West Bengal power secretary S Barma and DPL chairman A K Chanda on DPL's behalf, and PPIL managing director W Haertig and joint-managing director L Nagarajan.