West Bengal Gov for new pumped storage power project

Kolkata: The West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, dedicated the country’s largest Rs. 2,953 crore 900 MW pump storage hydel power project at Ayodhya Hills in Purulia, to the State.

The 4X225 MW project – funded by Japan Bank of International Co-operation (JBIC) - became operational between October 2007 and January 2008 helping the State power utilities to run at high plant load factor (PLF) during non peak hours and maintaining the grid stability.

The projects uses 1100 MW power to pump water on the storage tank at the hill-top during the non-peak hours followed by production of hydel power during the peak hours.

Demand for power drops significantly in the State during non-peak hours creating serious challenges for the power generation, transportation and distribution system.

The problem was further aggravated as the State had a lopsided 96:1 thermal-hydel ratio.

The project, therefore, will correct the basic imbalance in the system and will make profit by selling high cost power during the peak-hours.

Purulia pump storage project was conceived in 1978. The detailed project report was prepared in 1992.

Dedicating the project, the Chief Minister had also asked the State Power Ministry to look into the feasibility of setting up another pump storage project at Turga Dam having an estimated potential for 600 MW of hydel power generation.