Power Generation in Gas-Fired Plants Affected Due to Flooding in Gujarat

Flooding in Gujarat has severely affected power generation in gas-fired plants in the western and northern states, with several plants reducing or halting operations due to non-availability of gas. State-run NTPC's Kawas and Gandhar projects, which have a combined installed capacity of 1,293 MW, are among the worst affected. The shortage of gas has also impacted NTPC's three power plants in Delhi and two plants in Uttar Pradesh, among others. The situation has put additional strain on the northern grid, which is already facing shortages of up to 5,000 MW.

Key Takeaways:

• Power generation in the 645 MW Kawas plant has come to a standstill, with generation in the 648 MW Gandhar project reduced to about 100 MW.
• Non-availability of gas has partially affected GAIL's HVJ pipeline, impacting NTPC's three power plants in Delhi and two plants in Uttar Pradesh.
• A total of 1,000 MW of power generation is affected in the northern region due to gas shortage.
• The northern grid is also facing shortages of up to 5,000 MW due to prolonged shutdowns of hydroelectric plants such as the 1,500 MW Nathpa Jhakri project in Himachal Pradesh.
• NTPC's 652 MW Auraiya project and 817 MW Dadri plant in Uttar Pradesh have reduced generation by more than half due to fuel scarcity.
• ONGC had to shut its Bassein, B-55, and Panna/Mukta-Tapti fields due to flooding, resulting in the loss of 40.5 million standard cubic meters per day of gas.
• The country's largest generating utility, NTPC, has seven gas-fired plants with a total installed capacity of 3,955 MW.

Sources:

• PTI (10 August) New Delhi: Power generation in gas-fired plants remains low
• NTPC Ltd official sources (no date)
• Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) official sources (no date)
• GAIL official sources (no date)
• Northern Region Load Despatch Centre official sources (no date)