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The Andhra Pradesh Government has sought the Centre’s approval to roster available Krishna-Godavari basin–D6 gas for optimum utilisation by six independent power producers.
It has also sought allocation of additional power from Central generating stations to tide over power crisis.
The State has secured nod from the Ministry of Power and is awaiting nod from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to roster gas. This enables marshal the available gas and facilitate optimal use and reduce overheads.
Gas-based power plants are at present receiving 6.43 million cubic metres (mcmd) of natural gas a day against the requirement of 13.65 mcmd, leaving a deficit of 7.22 mcmd. This has meant that 1,600 MW of the installed 2,760 MW is idle.
In addition, upcoming plants of 2,400 MW have not been commissioned so far due to lack of fuel allocation.
The plant load factor of gas plants is now at 34 per cent due to fuel shortage. The State believes that rostering would help reduce overhead cost with some plants running for some days and others taking over later. Below certain supply, it would not be possible to run gas plants. The Chairman and Managing Director of AP Transco, Mr Hiralal Samariya, held discussions with the Union Power Secretary, Mr. Uma Shankar, and plans to meet officials of NTPC, GAIL and others to resolve the crisis.
ADDITIONAL POWER
The AP Transco Chief has sought Centre’s, GAIL and NTPC support to assist AP to resolve the fuel and transmission corridor issues.
NTPC was urged to expedite the commissioning of Vallur project in Tamil Nadu. AP is hoping to get its share of 178 MW from Vallur and 300 MW from Kudamkulam and 75 MW from Neyveli Lignite Corporation expansion projects. It was asked to enhance supplies from NTPC Jhajjar from 131 MW to 230 MW.
The Centre was requested to direct reschedule overhaul of the thermal units after monsoon. Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd was urged to improve the transmission corridor between north and south.
800 MW to be added by month-end
The power-starved Andhra Pradesh is likely to get about 800 MW of additional power by the month end with NTPC supporting with about 600 MW and Rayalaseema thermal power project with 2,010 MW. The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, directed the Chief Secretary, Ms Minnie Mathews, and energy department to ensure arrangements are made for additional supplies. About 797 MW will be added by July-end providing some relief. NTPC-Simhadri unit 3 and 4 will provide 420 MW, Ramagundam 60 MW, Talcher 107 MW and RTPP 210 MW as these plants would commence generation.
He wanted early synchronisation of private power plants and capacity addition from solar and wind power generation units.
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