The third unit of Muzaffarpur Thermal Power Station (MTPS) - having a generation capacity of 195MW - was successfully synchronised on Tuesday evening.
"The third unit of Kanti Bijlee Utpadan Nigam Limited (KBUNL) has been successfully synchronised owing to sustained effort and hard work put in by engineers and officials under the able leadership of KBUNL chief executive officer Bhola Ram Toofani," said human resource officer Vakil Ahmad, who also looks after the public relations.
He added that KBUNL deputy chief executive officer R.K. Sinha, general manager (projects) K.K. Das and others were present on the occasion.
An official of the power plant told The Telegraph: "In order to commission a power plant, a synchronisation process has to be completed. It is a crucial last step prior to commercial operation. Under the process, the plant is connected to the grid concerned to see the load factor. It also ensures whether or not all other aspects of the plant are working correctly for it to be made operational."
Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited chairman-cum-managing director Pratyaya Amrit said: "During the synchronisation process, the plant generated 214MW. We have set a target of making the plant commercially operational as soon as possible."
Asked if any plant can generate beyond its capacity, the official said a super critical technology-based plant is designed in such a manner that it can add up to 10 per cent of power, provided there is quality coal supply coupled with ideal conditions.
After the completion of renovation and modernisation, two units of 110MW each of MTPS are generating power. Bihar will get 261MW from MTPS's expansion project under which two units of 195MW are being constructed at Kanti in Muzaffarpur district. They are likely to be complete by the end of this year.
The plant is being constructed by KBUNL, which is a joint venture firm of NTPC and Bihar State Power (Holding) Company Limited. NTPC and the power company have 64.57 per cent and 35.43 per cent shares, respectively, in it.
The synchronisation of the 195MW unit of MTPS comes within a month of synchronisation of NTPC's second unit of 660MW at Barh in Patna on March 1, 2015.
