CHENNAI: The North Chennai Super Critical Thermal Power Station (NCTPS stage III), inaugurated last Thursday, is unlikely to commence its commercial operation within the stipulated timeline due to a variety of constraints.
Tangedco output reports indicate that, despite its 800 MW capacity, the state-owned plant has not generated more than 130 MW since the launch, which could not be contributed to the grid. In the absence of essential infrastructure to handle coal, including conveyer belts, the power corporation has fallen back on oil-based power generation methods.
Revised environmental norms require coal-based thermal power plants to install flue gas duct (FGD) systems, which are used to transport heat and CO2 from a plant to the greenhouse, thereby reducing carbon emissions. However, sources said the FGD systems are yet to be executed in the North Chennai stage III. As of now, officials have planned to transport coal to the new plant from the stage II power plant.
A senior official cited the gaps in basic infrastructure and told TNIE rectifying power generation would require additional time.
“While standard protocols allow for a one-month grace period for commercial operation following the plant’s inauguration, the lack of essential infrastructure has complicated matters. An exact timeline for achieving commercial operation remains uncertain,” he said. He added that Tangedco had sought additional time from the union government to roll out the FGD process.
‘Govt wanted inauguration before MCC’
When asked about it, another official acknowledged the pending tasks and assured that Tangedco would strive to complete them as soon as possible.
Sources claimed that the state government had pushed for the plant to be inaugurated before the model code of conduct for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls came into force, although Electricity Minister Thangam Thennarasu had nursed doubts.
Asked about the minister’s views, the senior official claimed ignorance but acknowledged the pending tasks and assured that Tangedco would strive to complete them as soon as possible.
Initiated by former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi in 2010, the North Chennai Stage III project was originally scheduled to be completed by 2015. However, the project faced delays when the government changed in 2011.
Though former Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami urged expedition of the project in 2019, COVID-19 lockdowns disrupted the timeline. Despite incomplete technical work, the previous AIADMK government organised a ceremony to open the plant’s boiler light-up -- a precursor to power generation -- on March 11, 2021, ahead of the Assembly elections that year.
However, the plant did not generate a single unit of electricity for the grid in the next three years.