Bhushan Energy’s 185 MW expansion project in Odisha will be commissioned only in April 2015. Fire accident at the site during trial run in 2013 in which the generator and transformer was damaged, is the main reason behind delay. Also delay in receiving clearance from MoEF is another reason for time overrun. Due to time overrun the cost of the project has gone up by Rs. 273 crore.
It may be remembered here that BEL’s 300 MW captive power plant had remained non-operational for close to two months since August 2013 as State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) had issued notice for shutting down the power plant citing environmental issues related to disposal of flyash. SPCB revoked the shut down order partially in September when it allowed the company to operate three out of the total four boilers. The approval from SPCB to commence the operations from the fourth boiler is still pending. For the just concluded financial year the company has reported low Plant Load Factor (PLF) of 27% from its operational 300 MW power plant.
