Neyveli Lignite set to light 250 MW unit

CHENNAI: Integrated mining-cum-power generation company Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) is planning to light up one of the two 250 MW Circulating Fluidised Bed Combustion (CFBC) boilers Friday, said a senior official. "We are planning to light one of the boilers Nov 25. We hope to generate 150 MW initially and gradually increase that to the full capacity," an official told media preferring anonymity. According to officials, the second unit is expected to be commissioned next March once the unit gets stabilised after addressing the teething problems. He said officials from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) had visited the unit recently. NLC officials said power generation will have to be increased gradually as the technology is new and issues have to be resolved. Officials said generation in the first unit was increased up to 150 MW during the test phase while issues were plugged during the process. Power equipment major Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd ( BHEL) had supplied four CFBC boilers for NLC. While the two 250 MW units are located in its home town and near the pit head at Neyveli, the other two units - 2x125 MW - are in Rajasthan. The two units at Rajasthan were dedicated to the nation in June 2010, but the boilers started facing problems and power generation had to be halted.