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The demand has surged to a record 16,800 Mw against the availability of 15,500 Mw leading to a deficit of 1,300 Mw.
The closure of 1,100 Mw Parali thermal power plant, drastic fall in wind generation to 500 Mw from 1,900 Mw, the reduction in power availability from the state power generation company (MahaVitaran) to 3,800 Mw from 4,500 Mw were also responsible for the power shortage compelling MahaVitaran to shed load in various parts of the state. Besides, power generation from Koyana hydro project run by Maha Genco picked up only 1,500 Mw as one unit IV is out.
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MahaVitaran official told Business Standard, “The mismatch between the spurt in demand and the availability also happened as the Adani Power’s one unit of 660 Mw in Vidarbha is out. MahaVitaran has excluded agricultural pumps from loadshedding as they are being used due to lack of rainfall. The power supply of 8-10 hours day and night for agricultural consumers is kept intact. To meet the ever rising demand, power from NTPC’s Mauda power situated near Nagpur is scheduled.”
Moreover, the Western Load Despatch Centre has scheduled the power from NTPC’s Kawas and Gandhar plants operated on regassified liquefied natural gas at Rs 10 per unit during day time.
Furthermore, MahaVitaran is also drawing about 1,200 Mw from power exchanges on round-the-clock basis at Rs 2.71 per unit.
The MahaVitaran official hopes that the situation will start improving from Wednesday onwards.
