The state faced a shortage of 300 MW during peak evening hours on Sunday even though the KSEB managed to obtain 250 MW each from the Rajiv Gandhi Combined Cycle Power Project (RGCCPP), Kayamkulam, and the Power Exchange to make up for the shortage in supply caused by the shut-down of the Moolamattam power station in Idukki.

“The state also received well below its quota of central share on Sunday also due to the labour strike in the Mahanadi coal fields in Orissa,” KSEB officials said.

According to the KSEB officials, the repair works at the Moolamattam power station are expected to be completed by 5.30 pm on Monday. “We will have at least four generators operational by then,” a KSEB spokesperson said.

The KSEB is also planning to conduct Residual Life Analysis (RLA) tests on three generators at the power house if the repairs are completed on time.

Power generation from the Moolamattam power house has been stopped fully for speeding up the renovation of the air-conditioning and ventilation facility. It was earlier announced that this underground station of the Idukki power project would be shut down from 11 pm on Saturday to 5 pm on Monday.

Earlier, the power utility had calculated that the state would face a shortage of 400 MW during day time and 700 MW during the peak evening hours on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, there appeared to be no change in the labour situation in the Mahanadi coal fields in Orissa which has hit supply from Simhadri and the Talcher stations of the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). Due to this, the KSEB had to impose half-hour restrictions in supply on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the KSEB received only 141 MW from Talcher against the normal quota of 420 MW. Simhadri also let the state down. “Kerala received only 62 MW in the place of 90 MW,” KSEB officials said.