Vadodara: After remaining shut for almost a month following a major fire, the 210 MW unit-5 of 850 MW Ukai thermal power plant in Gujarat has commenced operations.

The unit had been shut since May 17, after a major fire broke out due to oil leakage and the entire unit-5 was damaged. The operations began Sunday.

“This unit has started generating 170 MW as per the requirement,” Gujarat State Electricity Company (GSEC) Executive Director H N Baxi told PTI.

“All the civil, mechanical instruments, turbine and furniture were damaged in the fire. A survey had been undertaken at the unit and a report was submitted to the authorities,” he said.

All the damaged cables and valves have been replaced and the entire machinery of the unit was checked and verified before bringing it back on stream, he further said.

The state has a total installed capacity of 18,000 MW, which includes generation of power from thermal, gas and hydro-based power stations owned by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam and other private and Central utilities.

PTI