Date:03/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/05/03/stories/2007050304960100.htm

Back Dabhol power for Maharashtra may be delayed

Our Bureau

Impasse over gas pipeline in Surat

Mumbai May 2 The power-starved Maharashtra may not get additional power from Dabhol by July even if the current impasse over the pipeline, which will supply gas to the power project, is resolved soon.

The work on the gas pipeline is stuck in Surat district, due to the protest from local people and the Gujarat Government's refusal to clear the pipeline.

Following this, the scheduled commissioning of the two units of the Dabhol plant would be delayed.

The Union Power Minister, Mr Sushil Kumar Shinde, on Wednesday said he was hopeful of finding an amicable solution to the issue. Mr Shinde said he would be taking up the issue with the Gujarat Government in two days. He was talking to the media here after a meeting to review the power situation in Maharashtra.

Once the pipeline issue was sorted out, it would take at least eight weeks for the unit to start running, Mr Chandan Roy, CEO of Ratnagiri Gas, which is now operating the Dabhol plant, said.

Mr Shinde said he would request the Gujarat Government not to club issues it has with the Union Government in such a way that it will affect Maharashtra, he said.

Mr Shinde said even if the pipeline were to be cleared, all the 2100-MW of power from Dabhol plant would not be generated on gas; only 1400-MW would be generated from gas.

Currently unit number-II from Dabhol is running on naphtha and unit number-III will start in a month, for which gas supply is required. Mr Roy said currently the single unit was running on naphtha but the entire plant cannot run on it, as the fuel cost would be very high. He said unit-II was generating 350 MW and the generation would double by May 7.