CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has got one more stable power source. Tamil Nadu Power Generation Corporation (TNPGCL) on Saturday brought the Unit 1 of Udangudi thermal power plant with 660 megawatt (MW) capacity into commercial production of electricity.The mandatory 72-hour non-stop full potential power generation trial of the unit started on Sept 2, and it successfully completed the trial at 4.15 pm on Saturday, after which the unit was declared commercially ready for power generation. Only when the commercial operation begins that a thermal plant can be declared as an asset and included in the power generation capacity as well as in forecast plans.Work on the Udangudi thermal plant in Tuticorin, set up at a cost of Rs 13,076 crore, began in 2017. However, the plant was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was inaugurated in 2025 by the then chief minister, M K Stalin. However, the plant was on trial run for over a year.The plant comprises two units of 660MW. With Unit 1 having begun the commercial operation, TNPDCL has shifted focus on Unit 2 to complete the pending works.“The generation from Unit 1 is imperative as the state’s power consumption continues to be high till date due to poor southwest monsoon. During summer 2027, power from this unit will greatly reduce our dependence on high coat electricity from power exchange. We are planning to bring Unit 2 also into commercial production before next summer,” said TNPGCL managing director Govinda Rao.Udangudi thermal plant will be the seventh thermal power station to generate electricity from coal for the state taking the total installed capacity from 5120 MW to 5780 MW, the others being Tuticorin thermal plant (1050MW), Mettur Thermal Power Station I (MTPS I)(840MW), MTPS II (600MW), North Chennai Thermal Power Station (NCTPS)I (660MW), NCTPS II (1,200MW) and NCTPS III (800MW).It may be noted NCTPS III took nearly two years to begin commercial power generation in January this year, though it was inaugurated in 2024. But Udankudi thermal plant Unit 1 has begun commercial operation within a year.
