Goindwal Sahib thermal plant starts ops after 10 months

TARN TARAN: In a non-operation mode for over 10 months, the thermal power plant at Goindwala Sahib, 20 km from the district headquarter, has finally started working, though the generation of power is not in full swing yet.

The plant came into limelight after Punjab chief minister (CM) Captain Amarinder Singh announced to sell electricity to Pakistan from the plant as the supply will be easy, owing to its proximity to the border.

However, he had rolled back the plan after the alleged mutilation of Naib Subedar Paramjit Singh by Pakistani Army. The slain soldier’s village Vein Poin is situated near Goindwal Sahib.

The GVK Power Limited which is in power purchase agreement (PPA) of the plant with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) for 25 years, is already reeling under loan and had sought more loan to resume the operations.

Also lack of coal supply was the reason behind the non-operation of the plant.

The plant has two units with the capacity of 270 MW each and one unit has resumed the operation as the coal supply has become normal. “The operation is in testing phase and power supply has not started,” said GVK Power Limited sources. PSPCL officials have expressed hope of getting surplus power supply with power generation in the plant.

Earlier, also due to non-supply of coal, the plant remained non-operational for many years before April 2016, when it became operational for the first time. At that time, Coal India Limited (CIL) and a Swiss-based company IMR Metallurgical Resources had agreed to supply coal for the project.