Call to augment thermal power

The State government should increase power generation from thermal power plants during the summer months to tide over the power shortage in the State and the subsequent load shedding, said Mr A.N. Rajan, president of the Kerala Electricity Workers' Federation (AITUC). A total of 771 MW power can be produced at the six thermal power plants in the State, but only 300 MW is being produced. Load shedding can be done away with if the plants function optimally. The high price of naphtha (for use in the plants) can be brought down if it is made available for Rs 22,000 a tonne, the rate at which it is given by the Centre to private fertilizer manufacturing companies. Using this, a unit of power can be manufactured at less than Rs 5, he said.