Patna, Aug. 2: The first unit of 110MW of Kanti Thermal Power Station — now Kanti Vidyut Utapadan Nigam Ltd (KVUNL) — in Muzaffarpur would start generating power from September.

KVUNL is a joint venture between National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Bihar State Electricity Board (BSEB). However, the second unit of KVUNL is expected to start generation in January 2013.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (Bhel), one of the largest engineering and manufacturing companies, which manufacture power plant equipment, has been entrusted with the job of carrying out renovation and modernisation of both the units in Muzaffarpur.

“The first unit in Muzaffarpur would be commissioned in September. Bhel officials have informed the board in this regard,” BSEB chairman P.K. Rai told The Telegraph.

It means that Bihar would no longer have zero thermal power generation because it can now boast of generating 110MW power. The state, which has the installed capacity of 52MW of hydro-electric power plant, is entirely dependent on the central generating units of NTPC to meet its energy requirement.

The state’s total power demand hovers between 2,500MW and 3,000MW. It is scheduled to get 1,833MW from the central sector but normally gets around 1,000MW to 1,200MW on an average. Apart from the central sector allocation, the state has been purchasing additional 500MW since March from the open market.

Of the total availability of about 1,400-1,600MW — on an average daily allotment, including 400MW purchased by the BSEB from the open market — the board has to supply around 400MW to 450MW to Patna against its peak demand of 550MW to 600MW during summer besides earmarking 369MW for essential services like railways, defence, airport, dairy and others.

However, the state can heave a sigh of relief as both the units of 110MW each at Barauni are expected to start generation by February-March 2013.

Bhel has also been carrying out renovation and modernisation work for two units — one each of 110MW — of Barauni thermal power station, the lone thermal plant, which is owned by the state electricity board.

“Bhel officials claim that one unit of Barauni would start generation after the completion of renovation and modernisation work in September, while the second one would start generation by December 2012. But I don’t think the schedule given by Bhel is a realistic one going by the pace of the work. In all likelihood, both the units of Barauni would start by February-March next year,” a board official said.

Asked why the work is being delayed, he said that a company like Bhel is not interested in carrying out renovation and modernisation work for the small plants. “Rather it is more interested in new and expansion work of thermal plants,” he added.

The official, while responding to a query as why the board awarded the contract to Bhel, made it clear that it was not the decision of the board. The contract was awarded by the Planning Commission, which also provided funds directly to Bhel and its consultant NTPC, he said.