GIPCL's fourth 125 MW Surat unit commences operation

Gujarat Industries Power Company Limited (GIPCL), today, announced that the fourth 125 MW unit of its lignite-based power project at Mangrol, in the Surat district of Gujarat, has commenced commercial operations, as of April 19, 2010. With the achievement of this milestone, the entire 2-unit expansion, worth 250 MW, is now fully functional and operational. Pertinently, the commissioning of this project has been delayed due to a glitch that developed in the third unit soon after it was synchronized, on December 22, 2009. However, according to GIPCL, this unit is also running in a stable condition after re-synchronization.

GIPCL has already entered into a power-purchase-agreement (PPA) with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nagam Limited (GUVNL) for sale of power from this project. GIPCL, a state-owned company, is engaged in power generation at Vadodara and the Surat districts of Gujarat, where 556 MW worth of projects are installed. The company was promoted by various state-owned enterprises-- Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited, Gujarat Alkalies & Chemicals Limited-- and Petrofils Cooperatives Limited, with an aim to generate electricity to meet the industrial power demand of the state.