GMR Energy begins operation of 768-MW power plant in Andhra
The clean fuel used in the plant will make the power generation eco-friendlyGMR Rajahmundry Energy Ltd. (GREL), a subsidiary of GMR Energy Ltd., on Friday announced that it has successfully started commercial operation of its 768-MW gas-based power plant in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. “The commercial operation of the power plant commenced with the beginning of gas supply under e-bid RLNG Scheme (“Scheme for utilisation of stranded gas based power plants”), which was launched by the government of India in March, 2015,” GMR Infrastructure Ltd. said in a statement. With the e-bid RLNG (Regasified Liquefied Natural Gas) Scheme, the 768-MW power plant can now operate at 50% Plant Load Factor (PLF). The unit can generate up to 384 MW of power and ensure continuous supply to the state’s electricity distribution companies (discoms). With the current scheduling, the plant is expected to operate for at least a month. GREL is a combined cycle power plant, which will operate with natural gas and generate power using GE’s advanced technology of gas turbines. The clean fuel used in its operation will make the power generation eco-friendly. Current operations will continue till March 2016, depending on gas availability. The government will begin with a fresh round of bidding in March 2016. “The gas based plant was awarded allocation of gas last month along with GMR Vemagiri Power Generation Ltd. (GVPGL), which has already got operational recently. Both the plants are located adjacent to each other,” it said. As part of the scheme, the government will subsidize the power distribution companies to the extent of Rs.1.44 per unit from the Power Sector Development Fund. A combined capacity of 1156 MW will be supplied with imported natural gas under the government’s ‘Scheme for utilisation of stranded gas based power plants’. GMR Energy has already secured 3,000 MW worth of coal security for all its coal-based assets.
November 20, 2015 |5:32pm IST
to success.