GMR Rajahmundry Energy Ltd (GREL), a subsidiary of GMR Energy Ltd, recently announced successful commencement of commercial operation of its 2×384-mw gas-based combined cycle gas based power plant in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. GREL is a combined cycle power plant with natural gas and generates power using GE’s advanced class technology of gas turbines (GE Frame 9 FA).
A statement by GMR said that commercial operation of the power plant commenced with the beginning of gas supply under e-bid RLNG Scheme (“Scheme for Utilization of Stranded Gas based power plants”), launched by Government of India in March, 2015. With the current scheduling the plant is expected to run for at least a month, the release said.
With the beginning of e-bid RLNG Scheme, the 768-mw power plant can now operate at 50 per cent plant load factor (PLF), thereby generating 384 mw that would be supplied to various power distribution companies in Andhra Pradesh. Current operations will continue up to March 2016, depending on gas availability. In March 2016, the government is expected to call for a fresh round of bidding.
The gas-based plant was awarded allocation of gas last month along with GMR Vemagiri Power Generation Ltd (GVPGL), which has already got operational recently. Both the plants are located adjacent to each other. As per the scheme, the government will subsidize the power distribution companies to the extent of Rs.1.44 per unit from the Power Sector Development Fund, the release added.
