Nashik: Uncertainty looms over the thermal power plant of state power generation company (Mahagenco) at Eklahare near Nashik city as transporting coal to the facility has become a costly affair.Director of the MSEB holding company, Vishwas Pathak, on Monday told reporters that power production at the Nashik power plant would depend on the demand for power in the state.“The main problem is that the cost of power production at that plant is extremely high since it involves transporting coal. Although the plant will not be closed down, its operations would depend on the demand for electricity,” he added.He said that it was the state government’s policy to operate thermal power plants where coal is easily available so that electricity generation is cheaper. “Unfortunately, transporting coal is a major issue for the thermal power plant of Nashik,” said Pathak.Mahagenco sources said that the plant is procuring coal from Vidarbha region of the state. “The cost of transporting coal is Rs 900 per metric tonne. This increases the cost of power generation by 50 paisa per unit. Presently, we are generating only 50% of power of total capacity at Eklhare thermal power plant, but power generation at the plant may increase in summer if demand goes up,” added the official.The Eklahare has a total power generation capacity of 630 MW through its three units. However, one of its units is presently not operational. “At present, only two of the three units at Eklahare thermal power generation plant are operational. Moreover, we are generating 330 MW from these two units. It means we are generating 160 MW from each unit, instead of 210 MW,” sources from Mahagenco told TOI.At present, the demand of power in the state is around 9,000 MW, but Eklahare plant will be fully operational if the demand increases in future.Pathak said that it was the the Central government’s policy to close down power plants that have been in operations for more than 30-35 years. “Nashik’s thermal plant will not be closed and it will be operational as per the power demand,” he said.There have been reports of shifting Nashik’s thermal power plant elsewhere in the state and local MP Hemant Godse from Shiv Sena had also recently approached the Mahagenco for not closing the Eklhare plant in future.

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