Tangedco registers all-time high power demand of 17,106MW; Plans to import coal to meet summer needs – EQ Mag Pro
CHENNAI: The state registered an all-time high energy demand of 17,106MW at 10.30am on Monday, which is expected to increase further in the coming days. It has been planned to import 4.8 lakh MT of coal with a gross calorific value of 5,000Kcal/kg to meet the demands of the summer, according to electricity minister V Senthil Balaji.
At a review meeting in Tangedco, the minister said the state had the stock of 2.84 lakh MT of coal, in Tuticorin, Mettur and North Chennai thermal power stations. “There will be the arrival of 1.5 lakh MT of coal in one or two days. As per the orders of the Union government, the coal should not be stocked for more than four days,” the minister said. The state requires 72,000MT of coal every day to meet the daily requirements. However, the Union government allots only 50,000MT/day. The imported coal will help generate 960 million units and generation cost ranges between Rs 8 and Rs 9 per unit.
The power managers planned to generate 645MW of hydro power. As of now, the discom receives 200MW from Kadamparai pumped storage plant, 186MW from gas turbine power plants and 3,500MW of solar power. At least 3,608MW of power is sourced from short, medium and long-term power purchase agreements, besides 250MW from other projects.
The minister said the five thermal power plants generated 15,554 million units of power last year, however, the generation rose by 456 units more till date this year. Similarly, 5,094 million units were generated by the hydropower projects, and generation went up by 10 crore units this year. The generation cost of hydropower fell to 0.58 paise from 0.58 paise.
Speaking to reporters later, Senthil Balaji said the department had earned savings of Rs 2,200 core through various reforms. “The North Chennai Thermal Power Plant Stage III announced by the previous DMK regime should have been completed by 2019. The previous AIADMK regime could not complete it. The work is on a war-footing manner and trial run will be in November and the plant will commence with full load by December,” the minister said.
The department had taken up initiatives in a war-footing manner, including extension of 98,157 agriculture connections within six months of launch of the scheme. The remaining 1,843 farmers will receive it in a day or two. Similarly, 8,905 transformers had been installed by the department. The EB complaint desk, Minnagam received 7.11 lakh complaints until Sunday, and 7.06 lakh complaints were redressed, the minister said.
Source: PTI
