SALEM: Power generation at the Mettur Thermal Power Station (MTPS) in Salem was affected on Friday after a boiler tube puncture developed in one of the four generating units of the first plant, resulting in the affected unit being taken for repair and causing a loss of 210 MW in the station's available generation capacity.
The Mettur Thermal Power Station has two plants — MTPS-I, the first plant comprising four generating units of 210 MW each, and MTPS-II, the expansion plant comprising a single generating unit with a capacity of 600 MW. The first plant has an installed capacity of 840 MW, while the second plant has an installed capacity of 600 MW, taking the combined installed capacity of the station to 1,440 MW.
The boiler tube puncture occurred in the first 210 MW unit in MTPS-I, following which power generation from the particular unit was stopped. As a result, the station's overall available generation capacity was reduced by 210 MW, while the remaining units continued to generate power based on their operational status.
Sources said boiler tube punctures have been a recurring issue at the plant, with overheating and the condition of the boilers among the factors contributing to such incidents. Following Friday's puncture, power generation in the affected unit was stopped for a few hours to facilitate repair works. The repair was completed quickly, after which operations in the unit resumed and power generation was restored.
Meanwhile, power generation activities at Unit 3 of the MTPS I have been completely halted since September 23 to carry out scheduled annual maintenance work, which is expected to last for a total duration of 15 days.
