Chandigarh: Under National Meritorious Award Scheme for Power Sector, instituted by Govt. of India, 6x66MW Pong Power House of BBMB has been conferred with Bronze Shield for the year 2010-11. In a glittering function held at Vigyan Bhawan on 22nd March, Sh. Sushilkumar Shinde, Hon’ble Union Minister of Power presented the Bronze Shield to Sh. A. B. Agrawal, Chairman, BBMB alongwith Sh. Ashok Thapar, Member (Power), BBMB. For this prestigious award, Pong Power House has been selected from among all the 100 MW and above HEPs in the country on the stringent parameter of plant availability. The evaluation process witnessed stiff competition with other much younger HEPs, e.g. Nathpa Jhakri of SJVNL & Baspa-II of JPVL, from central, state as well as private sector.
It was only due to meticulous maintenance & planning of BBMB that inspite of more than 34 years age of generating units of Pong Power House, excellent plant availability of 99.19% could be achieved. Much more than just meeting the generation target, Pong Power House generated 1347 MUs of energy i.e. 52% more than the CEA target. Moreover, the power house performed the additional role of voltage stabilization in the Region by running on synchronous condenser mode for 2475 machine hours.