The Union Power Ministry has directed the allotment of about 231 MW of the 500 MW unit I of power from Indira Gandhi STPS, Jhajjar, Haryana, to the energy-starved Andhra Pradesh from October 2011 to March 2012.
This was possible as Delhi surrendered its share from this project for short duration. In addition, allocation of 1.5 mmscmd of gas from RIL and ONGC by swapping the gas with GAIL will enable independent power producers (IPPs) in Andhra Pradesh to generate up to 300-350 MW.
Together, these moves will add about 500-550 MW of additional capacity to the the grid. The State is presently reeling under severe power shortage due to ongoing stir by miners of Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), who have been agitating in support of separate statehood of Telangana. There is deficit of about 50 million units a day.
These developments come in the backdrop of Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh's intervention based on the request of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N.Kiran Kumar Reddy, seeking Centre's help in tiding over the present power crisis in the State. The immediate focus has been to ensure power supply to the farm sector during the kharif crop.
The AP Transco expressed willingness to take the power supplied from Indira Gandhi STPS of Aravalli Power Company at a price of Rs 5.65/unit, plus incidental charges and transmission charges.