Reliance's D6 gas lights up idle capacity

With the Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) operated KG-basin D6 block gas flowing in, the gas-based power generation across the country has registered a healthy turnaround.

In October, a total of 15 gas-based stations recorded a plant load factor (PLF) of over 80 per cent due to improved fuel availability, as against around just 50 per cent last year.

The spurt in gas-based production has more or less compensated for a dip in hydro generation in the northern and eastern regions, where reservoir storage was 35 per cent and 33 per cent respectively below last year's levels.

Increased generation by gas stations, especially those in the south, have also come at a time when coal-based generation at a number of stations, including key NTPC ones, have faltered due to a botched-up coal tender.

Domestic natural gas production in April-October period was up 31 per cent at 25.389 bcm (billion cubic metres). Reflecting the jump in gas production, generation in gas-based plants shot up 34 per cent during April-October. “Surplus is also available due to low offtake by other sectors. The utilisation of the surplus gas has resulted in better utilisation of idle capacity,” an official with the Central Electricity Authority said.

A look at the region-wise operation efficiencies shows that the plants in south India had a PLF of over 71 per cent during April-October this year, as against 50.05 per cent year-on-year. The corresponding figures for the western region were 63 per cent and 57 per cent, while for the north it was 74 per cent versus 64 per cent.

Source: Hindu Business Line

__________________________________________________________________________________