AP Transco is likely to float tenders for purchase of about 1000 mw of additional power, including about 300 mw from the Southern region to tide over the demand supply gap during the ensuing rabi crop season.

The demand for power goes up significantly during the rabi season when over 31.5 lakh pump sets are used to evacuate water for farm operations.

The generating companies are also awaiting nod from the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission to generate power in some of the gas based plants using re-liquefied natural gas, according a senior Government official.

Responding to the concerns expressed by industrialists, he said that the situation will get much better wit the addition of fresh capacity of about 2,500 mw by AP Genco and other private sector companies and also the commissioning of West-South grid by the end of 2013.

The Government is also expecting the floating gas processing terminal for RLNG to be ready by next year end and all of these are likely to ease up the situation significantly, he said.

The State Government has also initiated a process of attracting investment in the new and renewable energy sector by inviting interest from solar power project developers and wind farm developers. The State hopes to add about 2,000 mw from renewable energy in the near term, he said.

The industries in the State are faced with up to 60 per cent power cut due to drop in generation. The drop was due to low hydel power generation, inadequate gas and coal supplies.

>rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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