Gas shortages pull down PLFs of India's gas-based plants

Numerous gas-based plants in India are running at sub-optimal plant load factor levels due to shortages.

Indian power producers have been asked not to venture into any more expansion of gas-based stations unless gas availability improves.
 
Unless the gas situation becomes clear it is likely that many a gas-based stations may be forced to shut down when their PLF dips below the criticial 50% PLF mark.

In view of the increased generation from hydro, nuclear and coal based plants leading to low schedules for gas based generation coupled with the problem of gas supply shortages to various gas based stations, the average PLF achieved by the gas/liquid fuel based plants during March 2012 reduced to a mere 53.77% against a PLF of 63.81% achieved during March 2011.

Gas based generation saw a negative growth rate of 11.47% and 5.64% during March’12 & April’11- March’12 respectively corresponding to the same period last year.

The Liquid fuel based stations continued to suffer on account of high fuel cost.These stations had a negative growth rate of 70.34% and 57.69% during March’12 & April 2011 -  March 2012.

The northeastern region, with a generation of 0.39 BU, recorded the highest PLF at 68.27%. The same recorded in the corresponding month last year stood at 75.39%. But the western region has the highest generation figures at 3.23 BU, at a PLF of 52.62%.

In terms of cumulative figures for April 2011-March 2012, the northeastern region has shown the highest PLF figures at 67.76%, as against a PLF of 67.14% reported last year for the same period.