Satluj Nigam's second hydro project starts generation

Public sector Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited's (SJVN Ltd.) second hydropower project in upper Shimla started partial generation Thursday, a company official said here.

The 412 MW Rampur Hydro Electric Project, located some 120 km from here in Kullu district, will be fully commissioned by June.

"All six vertical axis Francis turbine units each of 68.67 MW will be commissioned within three months," chief managing director R.P. Singh said.

He said the project on completion would generate 1,770 million units of electricity per annum, 30 percent of which would be supplied to Himachal Pradesh, which is the company's equity partner in addition to 12 percent free power.

The balance power would be supplied to the northern grid states, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and Delhi, said Singh.

The Rampur Hydro Electric Project is a second stage development of the up-stream and India's largest 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station owned and operated by SJVN Ltd.

The Rampur project is a unique scheme which will operate in tandem with the Nathpa Jhakri power station utilising its tail water.

The project has a 15.177-km-long, 10.5 metre diameter headrace tunnel and surface powerhouse.

SJVN Ltd.'s maiden project, located in Kinnaur district, started generation in 2004-05.