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CEA sets 35,794 mu of power output target for DVC in FY19

Calcutta: The Central Electricity Authority has estimated a generation target of 35,794 million units for the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) from thermal and hydroelectric sources in 2018-19, a growth of around 3.12 per cent over the previous year's target.
The public sector undertaking's generation units in Bengal, including the 1,200 megawatt (MW) Raghunathpur thermal power plant in Purulia district which DVC has decided to retain in its fold, is set to play a key role in the generation growth this year.
Data from the Central Electricity Authority show that the total generation target from DVC's units in Durgapur, Mejia and Raghunathpur is 22,668 million units in 2018-19 over last year's target of 21,100 million units.
"In Durgapur we have retired one plant and for the other unit, there are some IR issues (industrial relation). We are trying to sort them out and hopefully we will be running the unit. When the units runs, there is a good plant load factor of around 85 per cent. We have also decided to retain and revive Raghunathpur," said Prabir Kumar Mukhopadhyay, member-secretary, Damodar Valley Corporation, who has assumed the additional charge of chairman in February.
Damodar Valley Corporation had earlier planned to divest the Raghunathpur power plant and had initiated discussions with Neyveli Lignite Corporation. But the deal did not take place eventually.
"For Raghunathpur, we already have around 450MW of PPA (power purchase agreement) and the Bengal government is keen to source a sizeable part of the remaining 750MW and discussions on the same are in progress," Mukhopadhyay said.
In contrast, the total generation target from the thermal power units in Jharkhand in the current fiscal is 12,921 million units against a target of 13,375 million units in 2017-18. This is primarily on account of restructuring of the generation plants.
"In Bokaro, we have retired two units and commissioned a new 500MW plant in 2017," said Mukhopadhyay.
Damodar Valley Corporations' two hydroelectric units - Maithon and Panchet - have set generation targets of 100 million units and 105 million units, respectively, both lower compared with the targets last year. But Prabir Kumar Mukhopadhyay said generation would be adequate as it had to be balanced with the flood control measures.
Damodar Valley Corporation has recorded a profit of Rs 18 crore in the January-March quarter of 2017-18. "In 2018-19, we hope to sustain the trend in profit. This will come primarily from high power sales by tying up existing idle capacities. We are also looking to supply 300MW of power to Bangladesh soon," Mukhopadhyay said.
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