Bhel starts 700-mw Karnataka supercritical thermal unit

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel) on Friday announced the commissioning its first 700 mw supercritical thermal unit at Bellary Thermal Power Project (TPP) in Karnataka.

"The new 700 mw rating unit has been developed by Bhel in line with market requirements. With the successful supply and execution of this 700 mw set, a new chapter has been added in the adoption and indigenous development of supercritical technology by Bhel," the company said in a statement. The order for the Bellary project of by Karnataka Power Corporation Lte (KPCL) was won by Bhel through international competitive bidding on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis, it said.

Notably, this is the third unit commissioned by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd  at Bellary, where two units of 500 mw supplied and executed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, are already in operation, it added. 

Bhel has been a major partner of KPCL in the development of Karnataka's power sector. Bhel has supplied and executed 3,210 mw of sets in the state so far, which account for 94 per cent of the coal-based installed capacity of KPCL.