'Dabhol to generate power at full capacity by Nov'

KOLKATA: Ratnagiri Gas and Power Pvt (RGPPL) expects the Dabhol power project to start generating power in all its three blocks by November 2007. “We expect to receive gas from GAIL by March 2007. Following this, Block 3 will be commissioned.

Subsequently, Block 2, which is already running on naphtha, will be switched over to gas as fuel. Block 1 is expected to start generation by November 2007,” RGPPL chairman Chandan Roy said. He was speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on fly-ash in Kolkata on Friday.

Three blocks taken together, RGPPL has a total installed capacity of 2,150 mw, of which the first has 670 mw, while Block 2 and Block 3 possess capacities of 740 mw each. “There’s been a delay in availability of gas following which there was a hold-up in commissioning the three blocks.

We hope Petronet LNG will be able to supply gas by March 2007 and we will be able to start generation by April 2007,” Mr Roy explained. RGPPL is owned by seven entities. Principal shareholders NTPC and GAIL hold 28% each, while MSEB owns 15%, IDBI Bank 11%, ICICI Bank 7%, the State Bank of India 9% and Canara Bank 2%.