Use Gas Turbines Judiciously, Says Wbseb Union

The West Bengal State Electricity Board Workmen's Union, which is affiliated to the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (Citu), has suggested more judicious use of the board's five gas turbines to reduce losses.

In the first nine months of 1999-2000, the five gas turbines generated 1.05 crore units of energy at a cost of Rs 7 crore. The gas turbine power thus cost the board more than Rs 6 per unit.

West Bengal has a total energy deficit of 0.46 per cent of demand which results in marginal peak hour shortage. Had the gas turbine power been not available, the energy shortage would have gone up to 0.57 per cent, an increase of 0.11 per cent only.

 

The union has said: "The Rs 7-crore spent to generate the gas turbine power is not insignificant considering the poor financial situation of the West Bengal State Electricity Board."

The union has also suggested relocating the gas turbines at other power stations. According to the union, the gas turbine at Siliguri should be placed at the stage II power house of the Teesta Canal Fall hydel power project.

The other four gas turbines

located at Kasba and Haldia should be relocated to the four

state-owned thermal power stations at Bakreswar, Bandel, Kolaghat and Santaldih.

The relocation has been justified on the grounds of economy. "The separate overhead and maintenance expenses for the five gas turbines located at three separate places is adding avoidable burden on the board's finances," said the union.

The five gas turbines of 20 mw each costing about Rs 30 crore were imported from John Brown, UK, over two decades ago as a short-term measure to fight power shortage in the early days of the Jyoti Basu government.

Two turbines each were set up at Kasba and Haldia, while the fifth was set up at Siliguri. There is a view that the gas turbines which are meant to meet only peak load, should be placed at larger power plants for better operational control.

The other

advantage of placing them with larger power stations is that the turbines can come in handy in case of any grid failure or even total shutdown of the thermal power plants. Most gas turbines have "black start" facility which enables the turbines to start independently. Thermal power generating units need some electric power to get started.

The Citu union's views are, therefore, backed by strong technical logic, admitted senior WBSEB officials. However, they refused to reveal if the union's suggestions would be accepted.