Stage set for B'lore's largest power plant

Conversion of a diesel plant planned

Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL)’s much awaited Combined Cycle Bidadi Power Plant (CCBPP) is all set to be a reality, with the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) agreeing to supply Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) required for the plant and the Yelahanka diesel plant, which KPCL intends to convert to a gas-based plant.

In the run up to the Lok Sabha elections, the State government had promised an exclusive 5,000 megawatt (mw) plant to the City. Now, the 2,100 mw CCBPP, the first in the State and the closest to Bangalore, is finally happening.

A top KPCL official, on condition of anonymity, told Deccan Herald that frequent meetings were held by the State Government with several companies including GAIL, Reliance and  Malaysia based Petronas, since April to supply LNG .

Entering into pact

“We had totally stopped pursuing the gas deal due to several reasons. Now the situation has changed a lot. GAIL has come forward to supply the required fuel. Due to the initiative of the Secretary, Infrastructure Development, we are expecting the MoU to be inked within the next two to three months,” the official said.

The Bidadi plant requires an estimated 14 million metric standard cubic meter per day (MMSCMD) of gas. The Yelahanka diesel unit, which is to be converted into a gas plant with a capacity of 720 mw, requires about 4 MMSCMD of gas, he said.

Accordingly, GAIL will be storing the LNG at Mangalore before it is transported via pipeline to the outskirts of Bangalore, where it is regasified and used.

“This process requires three years, but before that, our boilers will be kept ready to generate power. It requires less than two years because the readymade gas boilers in a package of 700 mw capacity each, just needs re-assembling,” explained the officer.

Sources in KPCL also said that one more pipeline from the East coast is also on the cards. This, according to the officials, will bridge the gap of demand and supply in the State.

Yelahanka diesel plant

On the Yelahanka plant, he said that it is inevitable to convert the plant to gas considering the non-availability of low sulphur high speed diesel (LSHSD) to run the plant.

“The plant being within the City limits, needs clean fuel where the sulphur emission is less than eight percent. But even the low sulphur high speed diesel which meets the requirement is beyond the reach considering the cost factor as well as the availability,” he said. The Yelahanka plant currently contributes up to 1.6 million units per day, but is put to use only during the days of crisis.

“We have been utilising it since 2007 during scarcity. But it was operating full time during this year because of the crisis. Converting the plant to gas would bring down the generation cost and another plant with a capacity of 600 megawatt will be installed here to meet the city’s requirements,”  said the official.