The Myntdu-Leshka Hydro Electric Project (MLHEP), the mainstay of electricity supply in the State has suffered crippling damage after its third unit generating 42 megawatt (MW) burnt down, it is learnt. MLHEP is now functioning on only 2 X 42 MW totalling 84 MW.
While the exact date and time of the occurrence could not be confirmed, sources said that it happened “about four or five days ago”. None of the officials reached out to were willing to speak about it yet.
Sources said that minus the 42 MW will result in the loss of hundreds of crores of rupees, particularly when monsoon time is the peak generating season. A run of river project cannot afford to lose its peak season, it is said.
The massive loss of revenue for the State will have a telling effect on the finances of the already struggling power sector.
It is learnt that the rotar and stator are totally reduced to rubble. Sources said that the damage is so complete that nothing can be salvaged. It will take at least a year to replace the machinery and get it working, sources said.
MLHEP is the flagship powerhouse of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL), with generating capacity of 3 X 42 MW, totalling 126 MW. During monsoon it usually generates around 124 MW. But now with one of its units damaged, it is reduced to 84 MW.
It may be mentioned that the power generation section comes under the Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL), one of the wings of the MeECL.
Out of the total 356 MW generated by the various hydel power plants under MePGCL, MLHEP alone contributed 126 MW. Now this is cut down by 42 MW.
Whether the incident was man-made or whether it was due to some malfunctioning of the equipment is not known as the MePGCL goes into damage control mode.
Strict silence is being maintained by the rank and file of MeECL and MePGCL and the officials are tight-lipped about the matter.
It may be mentioned that MHLEP, a run of river project has suffered many issues in the past which led to huge costs in rectifying them. One of them is the issue of high acidic water due to coal mine drainage entering the river’s tributaries a few years back which had led to corrosion of the dam and other components. This acidic water issue might well have impacted the internal workings of the generator, some guessed. It is also learnt the cooling pipes embedded within the air coolers had deteriorated and there were plans to replace them, said sources
Meanwhile responding to a question as to when was it likely that the MHLEP would be restored to its full capacity of generation after the massive damage, a top official of MeECL told Highland Post that they were waiting for the assessment of the damage to be made first and this could only be done when insurance surveyor arrives on the scene.
