Still a month’s time before new transformer arrives
Imkong Walling
Dimapur | July 27
Citizens of Dimapur and Peren districts will have to brace themselves for some few more weeks as the Power department is yet to get a replacement for the 20 MVA power transformer, which got damaged on July 24 last. With the 2012 London Summer Olympics starting today, one can well imagine the heartache of having to miss much of the Games, dubbed as the greatest show on earth. According to the department, it will be more than a month before a new transformer arrives. The department could not provide a date for its expected arrival.
For the time being, the State Load Dispatch Centre at Nagarjan, Dimapur is feeding the two districts with two 20 MVA transformers and an additional 10 MVA transformer installed as backup. Department sources said that the backup, an old machine, was installed on July 26 and is now functioning. Three 20 MVA transformers was feeding Dimapur and Peren before one of the machines got damaged. The damage was attributed to ‘overloading’. If the remaining transformers are also damaged chances of a black-out is imminent.
The replacement, with a load capacity of 100 MVA will replace the existing transformers for the two districts when it arrives. It is expected to easily carry loads of upto 80-85 mega watts. The existing transformers are said to be quite old and the department had already put in motion a proposal to get a new and bigger machine to take the place of the existing three. Consequently, an order was placed to get a new transformer towards the end of 2011. Unfortunately, before it could reach here, one of the transformers gave way.
The cost of the machine is said to run in many crores. Department officials explaining the reason behind the delay said that manufacturers seldom keep in the ready transformers of that high a load capacity. The manufacturers start assembling the machine based only on the needs and specifications of the buyer, thus the delay, it was explained.
Additional Chief Engineer, Power, K. Miachio when contacted said that the manufacturing company, based in Mumbai, is yet to specify a date or make a confirmation when the new transformer will reach here. The official further disclosed that the department is making efforts to tie up with the Assam State Electricity Board to assist the department till such time the new transformer is installed. The department has written to the ASEB requesting an allotment of atleast 20 mega watts via its Bokajan feeder, the official said. There is a glitch however. Even if the SLDC does receive the allotment from Assam, there are technical constraints involved because the existing transformers for Dimapur and Peren will not be able to carry the transmitted load fully, Miachio explained.
On average, the state at present is receiving a maximum of 50 mega watts during peak hours and around 30 mega watts during off-peak hours; this despite the claim of the department that the power scenario will improve during the rainy season.
