New Delhi: NTPC Limited has restored power generation from six of the seven units at its 2,600 MW Korba power station in Chhattisgarh, around two days after an electrical fault caused all operating units at the coal-based plant to trip on September 4.
The six restored units account for 2,100 MW of the station’s installed capacity. The remaining 500 MW Unit-6 has been under a planned biennial overhaul since August 25 and is expected to return to the grid by the end of September.
Six Units Restored After Sequential Restart
The restoration was carried out in phases in accordance with established safety and operational procedures, as the units could not be restarted simultaneously following the total shutdown.
The restoration sequence was:
- Unit-4 (500 MW): Restored within 12 hours
- Unit-5 (500 MW): Restored within 12 hours
- Unit-1 (200 MW): Restored within 12 hours
- Unit-3 (200 MW): Restored within 36 hours
- Unit-2 (200 MW): Restored on September 6 at 8:40 pm
- Unit-7 (500 MW): Restored on September 6 at 9:20 pm
With these six units back online, 2,100 MW of generation capacity has been restored at the Korba station.
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Electrical Fault Caused Simultaneous Tripping
The outage occurred shortly after 6 pm on September 4, when the units at the coal-based power station in Korba city’s Darri area tripped simultaneously.
According to NTPC, the incident was caused by an electrical fault during testing of a breaker at a Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) bay.
The simultaneous tripping resulted in what an NTPC official described as a “blackout-like situation” inside the generating station.
NTPC subsequently initiated the restoration process in phases, with the cause of the electrical fault being investigated.
Unit-6 Remains Under Planned Overhaul
While six units have resumed generation, 500 MW Unit-6 remains unavailable as it is undergoing a scheduled biennial planned overhaul.
The unit was taken under shutdown on August 25, before the September 4 electrical fault occurred.
NTPC said Unit-6 is expected to be brought back to the grid by the end of September. Until then, 500 MW of the station’s total capacity will remain unavailable on a planned basis.
Korba Power Station Has 2,600 MW Capacity
The NTPC Korba power station consists of seven generating units with a combined installed capacity of approximately 2,600 MW.
The station comprises:
- Four units of 500 MW each
- Three units of 200 MW each
The coal-based power station supplies electricity to several beneficiary states through the interconnected power grid, making its generation availability important for regional power supply.
NTPC Focuses on Safe Restoration
NTPC said the remaining units were restored sequentially in line with established safety and operational procedures following the total shutdown.
The phased restoration allowed the generating units to be brought back online safely while the company continued to assess the circumstances surrounding the September 4 electrical fault.
With six units now operational, the station has regained most of its generation capacity, while the final 500 MW unit is scheduled to return after completion of its planned overhaul.
About NTPC
NTPC Limited is India’s largest power utility and a central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Power. The company is engaged in electricity generation and has a diversified portfolio spanning thermal, renewable and other energy-related projects, supporting India’s power security and energy transition.
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