Ennore, Udangudi thermal plants nearing completion | Chennai News

Chennai: Tamil Nadu will get an additional supply of 2,640MW of electricity by March next year to tackle the demand for power in summer, as construction of Ennore special economic zone (SEZ) thermal plant and the Udangudi thermal power plant is nearing completion. The construction of the 1,320MW (2×660 MW) Ennore SEZ thermal station in Vayalur, Tiruvallur district is 70 per cent complete. The Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd (TNPDCL) Chairman J Radhakrishnan has asked BHEL, which is developing the plant, to prepare it for operation by March. The project, with an estimated cost of 18,000 crore, was announced in 2014 during the AIADMK regime, and the actual work started in 2016. The completion, however missed several deadlines. Radhakrishnan, during his visit to the Ennore SEZ plant on Thursday, inspected the turbine, boiler, gas-insulated switchgear, natural draft cooling tower, and inquired about the hindrances to complete the plant. He instructed the officers to resolve the legal bottlenecks for the smooth completion of the plant. Later, he inspected the maintenance works carried out in North Chennai Thermal Stations I, II, and III and instructed officials to make the plants run to their full potential before the beginning of the monsoon. Labour shortage is cited as a major reason for the delay in completing the work. Similarly, the 1,320 MW Udangudi thermal plant in Thoothukudi achieved first synchronization on Thursday, connecting the plant with the grid, a crucial step towards the beginning of commercial operation. Tamil Nadu’s power demand is anticipated to breach 22,000MW next summer, and the TNPDCL has been signing short and medium-term power purchase agreements to meet the demand. The plant is expected to generate power by this Dec. “Even if one of the units in each plant starts supplying power to the discom, it would reduce our reliance on external power markets,” said a senior official.