A technical fault at NTPC's Jamnipali station has brought power generation to a complete halt across all seven units, cutting off 2,600 MW of electricity supply. The fault, which occurred during breaker testing, has raised the risk of a power crisis in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and other states served by the plant, located in Korba district in Chhattisgarh. Efforts are under way to resolve the technical snag at the NTPC Korba station.
Technical Fault During Breaker Testing
Senior NTPC officials and management staff are working to fix the fault at the plant so that all seven units can be brought back into production. According to a management official, a team from Power Grid Corporation was carrying out breaker testing when the fault occurred, causing a sudden jerk in the Jamnipali station's power transmission line and all connected units.
2,600 MW of Power Generation Halted
Amid the sudden development, all seven units of the NTPC Jamnipali power station went out of production, halting power generation from the plant entirely. The Jamnipali station generates 2,600 MW of electricity, which is supplied via transmission lines, under the monitoring of Power Grid Corporation, to Chhattisgarh as well as Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa. The Union Territories of Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, also receive power from the Jamnipali station, and supply arrangements in these states have reportedly been disrupted following the technical fault.
SF-6 Breaker Testing
A team from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) was carrying out the testing required to install an SF-6 breaker at NTPC's switchyard when a blast occurred in the breaker. The sudden fault caused a jerk in Power Grid's transmission line and the units at the NTPC Jamnipali station, tripping all the units simultaneously.
Seven Units Installed at the Plant
The station has three units of 200 MW each and four units of 500 MW each installed. Together, these seven units generate 2,600 MW of power at the plant.
Blackout in NTPC Colony Too
The technical fault at the NTPC Jamnipali station has also plunged the company's residential colony into complete darkness. However, the management is working on alternative arrangements to restore power supply to the colony.
Public relations officer Usha Ghosh said the electrical fault occurred during breaker testing being carried out by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), which caused all units at the NTPC Jamnipali Korba station to trip. The process of bringing all the shut units back into production is under way, with the units expected to resume production by late night.