Bengaluru, DHNS: Staggered holidays for industries in the Bescom jurisdiction have been withdrawn with immediate effect, following an increase in the generation and availability of power, Energy Minister D?K?Shivakumar said in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference, he said there had been an increase in the availability of power following the generation of an additional 1,000MW?from the hydro reservoirs in Linganamakki, Supa and Mani. Besides, the State had started getting 220MW?from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant Unit-1.

Shivakumar said the Ballari Thermal Plant Unit-3, having an installed capacity of 700MW,?will start power generation from March and 800MW?was expected from the Yeramarus thermal plant in the next one or two months.

“It is now possible to meet the demand for power in?the Bescom jurisdiction and the staggering of industrial holidays is being withdrawn with immediate effect,” Shivakumar said.
The minister said the department was gearing up to meet the demand during summer and had chalked out long and short- term plans.

Good response

He said there was a good response from investors, both domestic and international, towards the energy sector at the Invest Karnataka-2016 which concluded earlier this week.

“As many as 38 companies have committed themselves to invest Rs 78,553 crore in various sectors, including thermal, solar and wind-power generation and installation of solar panels,” he said.

The details of the projects and companies are being compiled and would be released in a few days.

As many as 16 lakh LED bulbs have been sold across the State under ‘Hosa Belaku’, the Energy Department’s Domestic Efficient Lighting Programme, he said.

Ignition test successful at YTPS

The ignition test at the first unit of the Yeramarus Thermal Power Plant (YTPS) near Raichur was successful on Saturday. According to sources, now a test will have to conducted on supplying steam to the turbines. The turbine ignition test was unsuccessful due to a technical snag.

The ignition trials at the YTPS began on February 1 by using light diesel oil and heavy fuel oil. However, the trial was not successful due to some technical defects in the cooling tower.

“Trials are being conducted at the YTPS for the past two months. It is quite natural to encounter technical problems during trials. In fact, the trials are conducted to identify and rectify defects,” said P?Bhaskar, Technical Director, Karnataka Power Corporation.

Meanwhile, the second unit of the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS)?stopped functioning on Saturday due to a leakage in the boiler tube. The generation at the first unit too has come a halt as it has been taken up for annual maintenance.

Photo credit: DHNS