AP Govt Signs MoUs with Solar Energy Corporation To Procure 45 Million Units of Power

AMARAVATI:  Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy held a review meeting  on demand and supply of power and progress of existing projects and those be taken up and directed the officials to estimate the demand and prepare an action plan for coal procurement.

During the review meeting held at camp office here on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said the state government has signed MoUs with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)  to procure 45 Million Units of power in three phases in three years and added that  18 MU will be procured in first phase, 18 MU in second phase and 9 MU in third phase by end of 2023.

He said two more power plants one at Krishnapatnam and other at VTPS with capacity of 800 Mega Watt( MW)  each would be available in the state and with an estimation of 85 percent PLF, another 30 MU will be available and added that, on overall 48 MU of Power will be available soon. He directed the officials to focus on completing the new 1350 MW capacity power  project at Sileru and complete the works of  the 800 MW power plant at VTPS soon. He instructed the officials to prepare an action plan to ensure uninterrupted power supply to industries.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to maintain the plants under the auspices of GENCO with maximum efficiency and ensure 85 percent PLF capacity so that quality power can be given at low cost. He said the future will be secured through alternative methods like pumped storage hydroelectric projects and directed the officials to focus on 29 places where these projects are feasible and added that 33,240 MW of power will be made available provided that these proposed projects are completed. He said once this project is set up, power will be available for 90 years.

The officials explained to the Chief Minister the reasons for shortage of coal and increase of power  usage in the state and said they have procured power to ensure no problems to consumers. They said they have procured power at an average cost of Rs 36.5 crore per day in March and  Rs 34.08 crore in April. They said a  total of 1268.69 million units were bought in March at a cost of  Rs 1,123.74 crore and 1047.78 million units in April at a cost of  Rs 1,022.42 crore to overcome power issue.

The Chief Minister said under the DBT scheme, the government will deposit the entire amount towards electricity bills in the accounts of the farmers. The farmers will then pay the power utilities so that they can question for electricity services and Energy Department officials will also be answerable and accountable to the farmers. He said the quality power will be given to farmers and the incidents like short circuits of motors and meters won't be repeated.

The officials informed the Chief Minister that DBT of free power subsidy for agricultural connections implemented on a pilot basis in Srikakulam district is successful. They said 101.51 MU of electricity was consumed for 26,083 connections in Srikakulam district during 2020–21 financial year. They said the connections were increased to 28,393 in 2021-2022 financial year  but the consumption was limited to 67.76 MU and added that 33.75 MU were saved due to the reforms in power sector and DBT scheme.

SY Jagan said the YSR Jala Kala scheme should be implemented with transparency. He said the government has been drilling free borewells and also providing motors free of cost and free electrification works worth Rs 2 lakhs to provide maximum benefit to farmers.

Energy, Environment, Forests, Mines, Science & Technology Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Chief Secretary Dr Sameer Sharma, APGENCO MD B Sridhar, NREDCAP MD NV Ramana Reddy, and other officials were present at the meeting.

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