Southern grid connectivity to help NTPC utilise idle capacity

KOLKATA: NTPC plans to activate its idle capacity to generate some 7,000 mw of electricity to make the most of a new grid that connects power transmission systems in south India to the rest of the country.

NTPC officials said at least 5,000 mw of power capacity was lying idle at the country’s largest power company entire last year due to lack of demand from state utilities.

The connection of the southern grid to the national network with effect from January 1 will help NTPC utilise this capacity as power demand from southern states have always remained high, they said. So long the southern grid was a standalone power distribution system and NTPC could not route power from its plants to the region.

"From January 1, the southern grid has been connected to the national grid and power flow of about 200-300 mw has started on a trial basis.

This will slowly pick up in the next few months," said a senior official of a load dispatch centre of the national power grid.

NTPC also plans to activate another 2000 mw generation capacity lying idle due to non-availability of gas. "Some 2000 mw can be generated from the station which is now lying idle due to non-availability of gas at the right price," an NTPC official said.

The new grid will allow the stateowned company to pick up generation at its Ratnagiri Thermal Power Station. "Ratnagiri can afford to produce if it gets gas at the price offered by the KGD6 gas block," the official said, adding, "If buyers are ready to pay increased power price from the station we could produce with costlier gas too."