Technical Glitch Halts Power Generation In OPGC Plant

Ib Thermal: Several areas in Odisha are witnessing frequent power cuts due to halt in power generation in the Ib Thermal Power Station (ITPS) run by the Odisha Power Generation Corporation (OPGC) in Jharsuguda district.

Sources in the OPGC said that power generation in two units with 210 MW each has been stopped due to a technical glitch.

It may be mentioned here that the OPGC authorities had halted the power generation from Unit-2 on July 17 midnight after seeking permission from the state government and the Grid Corporation of Odisha (Gridco) for annual maintenance and repair work. Later, the authorities had to halt power generation from Unit-1 due to leakage of oil from the generator at 9.50 pm on July 24.

Sources said though the OPGC authorities have spent crores of rupees towards the maintenance and repair of these two power units every year, there is frequent disruption of power generation.

It is alleged that the apart from the state government and the Gridco, faulty management by the US-based AES Corporation, which has 49 percent stake in the OPGC, is responsible for frequent disruption of power from the ITPS.

This is the fifth time that the power generation from the two power units of the ITPS has been halted.

Similar incidents had taken place on July 24 in 2011, and thrice on May 13, July 30 and September 7 in 2014.