Amid LPG crisis, is Bengaluru staring at power cuts too? Yelahanka gas power plant shuts as GAIL stops supply

The Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru, is probably staring at a dual crisis now. The country is already witnessing an LPG supply crunch. Now, it appears that the city may also face an electricity supply challenge just as it heads towards peak summer power demand.


According to reports, Bengaluru’s Yelahanka Gas Power Plant has halted operations due to a gas supply shortage. The plant is considered a crucial backup facility for managing peak electricity demand between December and April.


Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) stopped supplying gas to the unit at 6:00 am on March 12, reportedly due to disrupted availability linked to ongoing Iran–United States tensions affecting gas supply in West Asia.

While the shutdown is not expected to cause immediate power cuts in Bengaluru, officials say it could pose challenges in managing peak electricity demand and may lead to disruptions in some districts of Karnataka.

The state’s first gas-based power plant has been generating about 370 MW of electricity daily for the Bengaluru grid since September 2024.

The facility has a total installed capacity of 370 MW, with 236.82 MW generated through a gas turbine and 133.22 MW through a steam turbine generator.

At an 85% plant load factor, the plant produced around 2,600 to 2,700 million units of electricity annually.

The Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) had been purchasing power from the plant at around Rs 8 per kWh to support the city’s growing electricity demand despite the relatively high cost.

Government says power supply will remain stable
Gaurav Gupta, additional chief secretary of the energy department, told The Times of India that the state government is prepared to manage the situation.

He described the disruption as “unforeseen” but said measures are already in place to meet rising demand.

One of the key strategies includes bartering electricity with other states such as Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to compensate for the loss of generation from the Yelahanka plant.

GAIL had earlier informed authorities that it would be difficult to continue supplying gas to the power plant until further notice.

The decision follows a supply protocol under which domestic consumers and essential sectors receive priority during shortages.

According to officials, priority supply will go to households, the fertiliser industry, commercial establishments, automobiles and other industries, leaving limited availability for power generation.

No immediate impact on Bengaluru, say engineers
An engineer told The Times of India that the shutdown is unlikely to affect Bengaluru’s electricity supply in the short term.

The city’s power demand will be met through thermal, hydel and renewable energy sources, which are more abundant during the summer months.

However, the Yelahanka Gas Power Plant has traditionally served as a vital backup facility during peak demand months between December and April, making its shutdown a notable development for the state’s power management strategy.