CUDDALORE: NLC India’s thermal power station I, which was commissioned between 1962 and 1970 in three stages was decommissioned on September 30. The power generated by South Asia’s first and only lignite-fired thermal station was supplied exclusively to the Tamil Nadu generation and distribution corporation (Tangedco).
The 600MW power station established with Indo-Soviet collaboration — six units of 50MW capacity each and three units of 100MW capacity each — was commissioned at an initial cost of Rs77.8 crore. The first unit was synchronised with the grid on May 23, 1962, and the last unit on February 21, 1970. President S Radhakrishnan dedicated the first unit to the nation on August 5, 1962.
The company decided to decommission the TPS I in a phased manner from March after it commenced the commercial operation of unit 1 of the Neyvelu New Thermal Power Station (NNTPS), which is the replacement plant for the TPS I. Accordingly, all units of the TPS I have been decommissioned and the last unit (unit 6) was ceremoniously retired at 4.04pm on September 30.
