Gas units disappear from the dispatch curve-I: No revival, only erosion – 19 May 2025

Across the country, less than 600 MW of gas capacity was operational on May 15. In April, over 12 central and private sector stations contributed dispatch. By May, over half those stations no longer figure in daily schedules.

There is no evidence that gas is being used even as a peaking resource.

Units like DGEN, Essar, Gama, and Mangaon were expected to show activity in May, but records show zero generation for the fourth consecutive month.

In April, central-sector gas plants delivered nearly 500 GWh, with NTPC’s Gandhar, Faridabad, and Auraiya clocking PLFs above 75%. But by mid-May, that momentum has vanished. Latest data shows that gas-based capacity utilization has crashed to just 16.8%—the lowest in the peak season.

These are now clear cases of stranded assets without any realistic recovery pathway unless structural reforms unlock capacity payments or fuel support.