GURU NANAK DEV THERMAL PLANT, BATHINDA

Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant is situated in Bathinda ( Punjab ) on Bathinda-Malout Road . The foundation stone of this prestigious Thermal Plant, comprising of four units of 110 MW each was laid on 19th November, 1969, the quincentenary year of the birth of the great Guru Nanak Dev Ji from whom it gets its present name.

The historic town of Bathinda was selected for this first and prestigious thermal power project of the state due to its good railway connections for fast transportation of coal, availability of canal water and proximity of load centre. This project was completed in two phases at a total cost of about Rs 115 crore. The first unit was commissioned in September, 1974 and the others were subsequently commissioned in September, 1975, March, 1978 and last one in January, 1979. The commissioning of these units not only helped bridge the gap between supply and demand in Punjab but also solved the chronic problem of low voltage prevailing in the Malwa region. It is matter of pride that this plant is working successfully since its commissioning.

This plant has won many National Award like Meritorious Productivity Awards from Govt. of India. GNDTP, Bathinda has also been accredited with ISO: 9001:2008.

Each unit of GNDTP, Bathinda, when operated at full capacity is capable of generating 26.4 lac units of electricity a day. The coal consumption is about 1500 to 1600 MT per unit depending upon the quality of coal. The total daily coal requirement is about 6500 M.T. (about two rakes of 58 wagons each) when all the four units are in operation. The coal supplies are being received from Jharkhand /Madhya Pradesh which are more than 1500 KMs from this Power Station. Fly ash generated is being used by M/s Ambuja Cement factory and other different industries.

As these units have completed more than their designed life span of 25 years, the Renovation & Modernisation of the units have been started with the following objectives:

1. To restore original rated capacity of the units. (Uprating of capacity from 110MW to 120 MW for units 3 & 4)
2. To improve plant availability/load factor.
3. To extend the life of the units by 15 to 20 years.
4. To enhance operational efficiency and safety
5. To remove ash pollution and to meet up environmental standards of Pollution Control Board
6. Energy Conservation.

R&M of unit-1&2 has already been carried out which are now running at full capacity of 110MW. Other two units i.e. unit 3 & 4 which are presently running at derated (85%) generating capacity are also being renovated. The process of R&M of the unit 3&4 has been started and work order has been placed on M/s BHEL for Rs. 465.360 Crore on 14.11.06. As per work order the shut down of unit-IV was to be availed in Dec.2007 but due to non-availability of certain critical components to be supplied by M/s BHEL , the R&M works of the units has been delayed now the shut down for R&M works of Unit-III has been taken by M/s BHEL since 14.01.2010 and as per work order R&M works of unit-III is likely to be completed within 9 months i.e. 15 th Oct. 2010 .The R&M works of Unit- IV will be carried out from 15 th Jan.2011 after 1- 3 months of the successful commissioning of Unit-III. & R & M works of unit- IV as per work order is likely to be completed within 8 months ( 15 th Sept.2011) sachdeva605@blogspot.com