Patiala: The two state-run power plants, which fired up single units around 10 days ago to meet the demand after all three private plants in Punjab suspended operations following non-availability of coal due to ongoing farmers stir against Centre’s farm laws, are now running out of fuel. The Lehra thermal plant has only two days coal stock if run on full capacity, whereas the Ropar thermal plant has four days coal.
On Wednesday, the Ropar plant suspended its power generation operations from its only operational unit in order to save coal for any emergency. The Lehra plant is still generating power from one of its four units. The 840 MW Ropar power plant can produce 200 lakh units (LU) per day while the 920 MW Lehra Mohabbat plant can produce 220 LU daily.
Other than the power generation by these two plants, the PSPCL has been meeting the demand for power from outside sources and a little from its hydel and solar projects over the last few days.
The PSCPL officials said Ropar plant suspended operations in order to save coal for emergency situations as the stock in these plants is not getting replenished. They said that power from outside sources was available at a cheaper price than the cost of power from a single unit from state-run power plants.
PSPCL chairman-cum-managing director A Venu Prasad said, “PSPCL is buying around 2,700 MW of power daily from outside sources to meet the demand in the state. The single unit of Ropar power plant was shut down only to save the coal. Moreover, its power production was costlier by running a single unit.”
