According to a recent report by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), delays in sourcing components by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd for 765kV transformers and reactors is adversely affecting the progress of the Bhuj-II transmission project.
As part of the “Transmission System for providing connectivity to RE projects at Bhuj-II (2000 mw) in Gujarat” project, which is being developed under the TBCB route, a new 765kV GIS pooling station is coming up at Bhuj in Gujarat. This project element is officially referred to as “Bhuj-II PS (GIS)”.
The CEA report states that as against the scheduled commissioning date of December 2020, the pooling station will likely come up only by April 2021. The supply of a 765kV transformer and bus reactors from Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) is facing delays as BHEL plans to import critical components like bushings and CRGO (cold rolled grain oriented) steel coils from China. In view the current situation, imports from China are shrouded in uncertainty.
The project is being developed by Powergrid Bhuj Transmission Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, under the tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism.
The Bhuj-II PS (GIS) has been awarded to a consortium of KEC International and NHVS India. As far as the overall progress goes, land contouring has been completed and so have major engineering activities. Work on the transformer/reactor foundation and GIS substation building is currently under progress.
Overall work on Bhuj-II PS (GIS) was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, though work has resumed, there is limited availability of manpower. Besides, very heavy rains in the Bhuj and Kachchh areas during August and September 2020 hampered overall project progress.
Transmission Line
Apart from Bhuj-II PS (GIS), there is also an associated transmission line as a project element. The 765kV double-circuit line connecting the existing Bhuj pooling station and Lakadia pooling station is being reconfigured so as to establish two 765kV double-circuit lines. The first will connect Bhuj PS to Bhuj II PS (GIS) and the second will establish a link between Bhuj II PS (GIS) and the Lakadia PS.
This transmission line has been awarded to Transrail Lighting Ltd, and the project is expected to complete by April 2021, as against the scheduled December 2020. The transmission lines aggregate 106 km. Currently, 72 out of the total 284 foundations have been completed while towers have been erected on 34 foundations. Stringing work has yet to begin.
Objective
“Transmission System for providing connectivity to RE projects at Bhuj-II (2000 mw) in Gujarat” project is being developed by Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, under the tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism. The project, estimated to cost around Rs.645 crore, is being developed by a special purpose vehicle “Powergrid Bhuj Transmission Ltd”, which was acquired by PGCIL in October 2019. The project aims to providing strong interstate transmission system (ISTS) connectivity to wind farms planned to come up in the vicinity of the upcoming Bhuj II PS (GIS).
Wind potential of 2 GW has been envisaged at Bhuj with another 2 GW at Lakadia and 1.5 at Dwarka. For integrating and evacuating power from these wind farms, a high-capacity system comprising 765kV and 400kV elements has been planned to interconnect Bhuj, Lakadia, Banaskantha, Vadodara and Dwarka. The project being developed by Powergrid Bhuj Transmission Ltd is part of this overall scheme.
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