THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the second mishap to hit the state’s power sector in six days, a major leak was detected at the 340 MW Sabarigiri hydel project on Monday, forcing a total shut-down of the power station.
Repairs have been launched, but will take five days to complete, officials of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) said.
No power restrictions have been imposed in the state for the time being even though the plant, the state’s second biggest after the Idukki power project, has been shut down. The leak developed in the flow measurement device on the penstock pipe which carries water to the power plant, a KSEB spokesperson said.
‘’The measurement device comprises a one-inch pipe near the butterfly valve and is used to compute the in-flow of water to the turbines. It will take one day to drain the water out from the penstock, one day for repairs and three days to refill the penstock with water,’’ the spokesperson said.
All six generators at the 340 megawatt (MW) power plant, the state’s second largest after the Idukki power project, have been shut down on account of the repairs.
To avoid power restrictions in the state, KSEB has scheduled power from BSES Kochi. If required, electricity will be scheduled from the NTPC’s Kayamkulam plant also.
This is the second major accident to hit the KSEB within a week. Last Tuesday, a blast had damaged the circuit breaker on the No: 3 generator at the Moolamattam power plant of the Idukki power project. This had resulted in a shortage of around 300 MW daily and the repairs are still in progress. Only four generators at Moolamattam are currently in operation.
Leak Detected
■ A major leak was detected at the 340-MW Sabarigiri hydel project on Monday, forcing a total shut-down of the power stations
■ All six generators at the plant, the state’s second largest after Idukki project, have been shut down on account of repairs