The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Chattisgarh): The Indian Power Stations Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Conference 2024, hosted by NTPC Limited, commenced in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The event was inaugurated virtually by Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K. Singh. Themed “Operations & Maintenance Practices for Safe, Reliable & Cost-Effective Power Generation,” the conference commemorates the commissioning of NTPC’s first unit at Singrauli in 1982, a significant milestone in India’s power sector history.
During his address, Shri R.K. Singh expressed his vision for NTPC to double its capacity to 150 GW and become a global entity operating power plants worldwide. He praised NTPC’s efficiency and reliability and emphasized the importance of timely project completion and reducing forced power outages to meet increasing electricity demands.
The Minister discussed the Energy Transition, stating that both thermal and renewable energy forms would coexist. He stressed the need to increase efficiency and reduce emissions in coal-based plants and advocated for expanding nuclear power capacity in collaboration with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL).
At the conference, the Union Minister released the IPS 2024 E-Compendium, Steam Turbine E-Learning Module, Boilerpedia, and inaugurated ‘Vikalp’, an ash-brick made from industrial byproducts.
Union Power Secretary Shri Pankaj Agarwal, Chairperson of the Central Electricity Authority, Shri Ghanshyam Prasad, and CMD of NTPC, Shri Gurdeep Singh, also addressed the inaugural session. Shri Singh highlighted NTPC’s Singrauli unit’s exemplary O&M practices, operating at almost 100% Plant Loading Factor even after 42 years of synchronization.
The event also featured the presentation of Swarn Shakti Awards (2022-2023) and Business Excellence Awards (2023-2024), recognizing the outstanding contributions of NTPC power stations. NTPC Talcher Kaniha won the Overall Champion title of the Swarn Shakti Award, and NTPC Vindhyachal secured the Overall Champion (Runner-Up) position and the Champion and Overall Excellence Award in the Business Excellence Awards category.
The conference’s theme underlines the importance of adhering to safety regulations, implementing quality control and maintenance practices, and embracing cost-effective O&M strategies for sustainable power generation. It serves as a platform to explore innovative strategies to enhance safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in power generation.