Centre to extend 7,842 Cr loan for two power projects in AP

Hyderabad, June 27 (INN): Impressed with the sustainable activities of AP power sector in recent times for achieving overall economic development of the State and generation of employment and to provide qualitative power supply to the public, the Union Ministry of Power has assured unstinted support to AP in its endeavour to become model State in power sector in the Country.

As part of this initiative, the Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) have come forward and agreed in principle to extend huge loan of around Rs.7,842 Crs for major power projects of NTTPS- Stage- V (1X800 MW) and DSTPP, Krishnapatnam ' Stage II (1X 800 MW) respectively.

During teleconference, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed Ajay Jain, Secretary, Energy (FAC), K. Vijayanand, MD/APGENCO & CMD/APTRANSCO (camping at Krishnapatnam) and Munidra, Spl. Secretary Energy, to take all possible steps for expediting the works of above power projects since getting addl. Generation is the need of the hour for the state.

The Chief Minister has reiterated that Centre has given full assurance for strengthening the power sector which is the back bone of economy of the State.

Union Minister of Power Piyush Goel assured the State Government to allot additional wagons for supply of coal through NTPC dedicated railway lines to AP which helps to generate 500 MW of addl. Power in the next 2 to 3 months.

Centre has also assured AP to favourably consider declaring AP as a pilot project to supply quality power to both industries and houses on 24 x 7 basis.

Ajay Jain apprised the Chief Minister about the power supply position and informed that maximum efforts will be made to complete the above major projects in time to meet the power demand. He informed that utilities could supply 126 MU as against the demand of 147 MU with a deficit of 21 MU.

Vijayanand informed the Chief Minister that, Krishnapatnam, Stage-I, Unit-1 which was already commissioned, is expected to generate 300 MW by tomorrow and will come into full fledged operation (800 MW) by July, 2014.

The officials also informed the Chief Minister that boiler light up of Stage-I, Unit-2 of Krishnapatnam (800 MW) is completed today is expected to be commissioned by 30th September, 2014. The Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant (RTPP) Stage IV -1 x 600 MW will be commissioned by December, 2015.

The top officials of Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) assured I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, Chief Secretary, Govt. of A.P. & Chairman/ State energy Conservation Mission (SECM), who has accompanied the Chief Minister during the New Delhi visit that EESL is ready to make investments towards Energy Efficiency programmes such as replacement of inefficient street lighting with LED lighting system in corporations and major municipalities which is expected to save around 40% of estimated existing power consumption. They have also informed the AP Govt. that detailed proposals in this regard will be submitted to SECM within a week.