KPCL eyes 8000 MW in 3 years

Energy Minister Shobha Karandlaje on Friday, said that the power crisis in the state was being kept at bay with the purchase of close to 1,200 MW of power from external suppliers each day. “While neighbouring states are facing power cuts of close to 16 hours a day, we are much better. But our projects are facing problems too,” she said. The minister was speaking at the foundation day of the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) in the city.

Karandlaje added that the process of providing water supply to KPCL’s 1,200 MW project in Chhattisgarh was complete and now only a coal linkage was awaited. Commenting on the future capacity additions in the state, she added that Unit II of the Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) would be able to supply 500 MW additionally from next week.

“With delays in rains and worsening water levels, if the rain does not pick up, hydel generation will fall,” she said, adding that while the state was currently procuring power at close to `7.70 per unit, it was not feasible to buy power from other states. “We must increase production and focus on wind energy. Our target must be  independence in supplying power,” Shobha said.

The Minster also mentioned that KPCL was trying to model a plant in Yadlapur to run on imported coal since the procurement of indigenous coal was not in the state’s hands. Managing director of KPCL M R Kamble said that KPCL planned produce close to 8,272 MW by 2015.

 He  said the parts for the Yermarus 800 MW thermal power plant and Unit III of BTPS had arrived and were in Karwar port while civil work had begun on the power plants. He also mentioned that BTPS had a reserve of close to 3,000 metric tonnes of Coal.