Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station Expected to Restart Power Production Today After March 15 Incident
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Synopsis
Unit III of the Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station is set to restart power generation after the fire incident on March 15, with ongoing efforts to repair the other two units.
Key Takeaways
- Unit III expected to restart operations.
- Fire incident on March 15 caused shutdown.
- Units I and II remain under repair.
- Firefighting efforts involved around 50 personnel.
- Power demand in Tamil Nadu is rising.
Chennai, April 2 (NationPress) Unit III of the Thoothukudi Thermal Power Station (TTPS) is anticipated to recommence power generation on Wednesday following the fire that led to the shutdown of three units on March 15.
Each unit has a production capacity of 210 MW. As per official reports, Units I and II are still undergoing repairs.
Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) Chairman and Managing Director, J. Radhakrishnan, updated the media that a specialized team has been on-site for the past three days working to restore operations.
“We have initiated power generation in limited quantities, but the unit has not yet achieved its full capacity. We are hopeful to resume complete operations soon,” Radhakrishnan stated, highlighting the critical need for Unit III to be back online as electricity demand in Tamil Nadu continues to escalate.
A senior official mentioned that while Unit III is prepared to restart operations, Units I and II remain out of service due to significant damage.
“A majority of the cables and machinery were extensively damaged in the fire. Restoration efforts are currently underway,” the official confirmed.
The fire incident transpired late on Saturday, March 15, in the cable gallery of the power supply system and swiftly spread to Unit II.
As a safety measure, Unit III was also deactivated.
Immediate action was taken by notifying the Fire and Rescue Services, who commenced firefighting operations without delay.
J. Radhakrishnan, also the Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), confirmed the temporary shutdown of all three units.
He noted that rescue operations progressed steadily despite the challenges posed by dense smoke from burning cables.
Approximately 50 fire personnel were involved in the operation, supported by 10 water tenders from Thoothukudi and surrounding areas.
Two firefighters experienced smoke inhalation and were admitted to Thoothukudi Government Medical College and Hospital.
To fully extinguish the flames, some sections of the power station had to be forcefully accessed.
Engineers and fire service personnel collaborated to contain the blaze and minimize damage.
With Unit III resuming operations, the power situation in Tamil Nadu is anticipated to improve in the coming days.
