BHEL on expansion mode: commissions 160 MW power plant in Rajasthan, inks pact with Yemen

BHEL CMD BP Rao

STATE-owned engineering behemoth Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) seems to be on an expansion mode as the PSU has commissioned a 160-MW gas-based power plant at Jaisalmer in Rajasthan for the state's power generation company a day after signing...

a MoU with Yemen government for setting up solar photovoltaic (PV)-based power plants at different locations in the country. Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd (RRVUNL) had placed the order on BHEL for setting up gas turbine-based 160 MW combined cycle power plant (CCPP) as an expansion of the existing Ramgarh power plant, the Maharatna PSU said in a statement.

“The commissioning of the steam turbine on May 1, has enabled the gas turbine, which was commissioned earlier, to operate in combined cycle mode”, said the statement.

With the commissioning of stage III, the cumulative capacity of Ramgarh CCPP has now reached 273.8 MW, taking the gas based generating capacity of RRVUNL to 603.8 MW. The main plant equipment of all these gas-based units has been supplied and commissioned by BHEL, the statement added.  The engineering behemoth has been RRVUNL’s major partner in its power generating capacity addition programme. BHEL has commissioned 4,344 MW of thermal and gas-based sets in Rajasthan which amounts to 88 percent of the utility’s thermal and gas generating capacity. For RRVUNL, BHEL is also executing the 250 MW Unit 4 at Chhabra TPS, which is expected to be commissioned this month, and the 2x660 MW super-critical units at Suratgarh TPS.

BHEL's scope of work in the contract envisaged design, engineering, manufacture, supply, erection and commissioning of steam turbines and generators for the gas-based power project.

The equipment for the project was supplied by BHEL's Hyderabad, Trichy and Bangalore plants, while BHEL's power sector - northern region undertook erection and commissioning of the equipment.

Earlier, in a step towards further consolidation of its position as the flagship Indian power equipment company in the overseas market, the PSU has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, Republic of Yemen for setting up Solar Photovoltaic (PV) based power plants at different locations in Yemen. "The MoU was signed in New Delhi by B. Prasada Rao, chairman and managing director, BHEL and Saleh Hassan Sumie, minister of electricity and energy, Yemen. BHEL is presently executing a 400 MW gas turbine-based power plant, Marib Phase-II, in Yemen. Setting up Solar PV plants in Yemen is a step in reinforcing BHEL’s commitment to providing green power solutions in particular and the Yemeni power sector in general," BHEL said in a statement.