Flooded lignite mines may worsen Tamil Nadu's power situation
Monday, 24 November 2008, 20:30 IST
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Neyveli: Power generation at three thermal units of the state-run Neyveli Lignite Corporation here might be affected as floodwaters have entered two lignite mines, crimping the fuel supply, officials said Monday. Though the extent of the ensuing shortfall was not immediately clear, production could fall by at least 15 percent, they said. Already reeling from a shortfall of roughly 1,400 MW, Tamil Nadu may see the power shortage worsening, resulting in additional load-shedding till the floodwater is pumped out, they added. Since the balance of over 1,200 MW of electricity generated here is fed into the southern power grid, the supply of energy to the other three south Indian states and the union territory of Puducherry may also be affected. Thirteen districts in Tamil Nadu have received incessant rainfall since Sunday afternoon. Neyveli Lignite, situated at this town some 200 km south of state capital Chennai, has an installed capacity of 2,490 MW of electricity produced by firing roughly 24 million tonnes of lignite mined from three open pit mines.
Source: IANS
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