On Monday, Punjab’s Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO announced the successful recommissioning of the 10 MW biomass power plant in Jalkheri village, Fatehgarh Sahib district, underscoring its substantial environmental and economic advantages, reported The Times of India.
Originally commissioned by Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) in June 1992, the 1×10 MW biomass plant operated until July 1995. Subsequently, it was leased to M/s Jalkheri Power Plant Ltd (JPPL) in July 2001. After a period of recommissioning in July 2002, it operated until September 2007.
Efforts to restart the project began in 2012 when a private developer was licensed to lease it for a specified period. In 2018, the plant underwent re-tendering for leasing. The renovated plant, which recommenced operations on June 21, now features advanced Denmark Technology boilers and is capable of generating electricity using 100% paddy straw. This state-of-the-art biomass facility aims to utilize 1 lakh tonnes of paddy straw annually, significantly reducing stubble burning across nearly 50,000 acres in Punjab. The initiative is expected to create direct and indirect employment opportunities for 400-500 individuals, thereby stimulating economic growth in the region, according to a press release.
The project offers numerous benefits, foremost among them environmental protection by mitigating air pollution caused by the burning of paddy straw in fields.
