Having learnt the hard way about limitations of hydroelectric generation and coal-based thermal projects, Haryana is now looking at gas-based projects. The total cost of constructing the new plants would be about Rs 16,817 crore at the rate of about 3.5 crore per megawatt for gas-based plants.
Haryana Power Generation Corporation (HPGC) sources told FE that ??shortage of coal in the country has prompted the Union government to import it from abroad and allocate it to states for keeping thermal power units running. Haryana has been allotted 30,000 tonne of coal monthly. The state government feels there will be no shortage of gas in the country in the near future. Problems such as these have prompted Haryana to turn to gas-based generation.??
The major gas-based projects in the offing are: Tata Power?s project in Jhajjar with a capacity 1,000 mw, Jindal Stainless Ltd at Hisar?1,080 mw, Weizmann Private Ltd at Panipat?600 mw, Tayal Energy, Silvassa at Panipat?400 mw, Haryana Aban Power Ltd at Faridabad?1,065 mw, Torrent Power, Gujarat, at Yamuna Nagar?660 mw.
The Gas Authority of India (GAIL) has been asked to supply gas to these through a ??carrier network?? (pipeline). The Haryana government has signed a tripartite agreement in case of projects to be executed by Tata Power, Jindal Stainless, Weismann and Tayal Energy. In case of Haryana Aban , Chennai and Torrent Power, Gujarat, bipartite agreements have been signed. However, no implementation time frame has been fixed in view of ??uncertaintity of gas??.
Haryana power minister, Randeep Singh Surjewala, said there was a proposal under consideration to set up a 3X350 mw gas-based plant at Faridabad in the state sector at a cost of about Rs 3,150 crore.
??All these gas-based plants will function as per the availability of gas, but the brighter point is that GAIL has signed an agreement to supply gas,?? sources say. ??We are optimistic about receiving gas from GAIL by 2009-10, by then construction work on these plants will be over.?? The corporation will confirm gas availability in two-three months.
Meanwhile, the government has asked National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to set up another 432 mw plant at Faridabad in the next phase and commit the entire power to the state. NTPC is already operating a 432mw gas-based plant at Faridabad.
Official sources said the existing thermal power generating units at the 165 mw coal- based Faridabad thermal power station, which were almost 30 years old with outdated and obsolete technology, would be phased out in the next 5-7 years.
HPGC was also exploring the possibility of setting up run-of-river or small hydel projects in joint venture with Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand during the Eleventh Plan period. The participation of independent producers was also being explored. It also plans to revive old plants. Four units of a coal-based plant generating 110mw each at Panipat are being upgraded to 117.8mw each. Three coal-based units of 55mw each will also be revived. These 30-year old coal plants are likely to be converted into gas-based power plants. sources said.
