The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has requested the Centre to divert regasified liquefied natural gas to gas-based power plants in the State while allocating additional power from central stations.

Shortage

The Chief Minister requested the Union Power Minister Veerappa Moily to help tide over the power shortage by arranging to divert 2.5 MMSCMD of natural gas from the Government/public sector gas projects located in west zone to independent power producers of Andhra Pradesh to generate additional power. This will help add about 500 MW, equivalent to 12 million units per day.

He said the gas from RIL KG D-6, allocated to Government/public sector gas- based power projects based in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan could be temporarily diverted to independent power producers in Andhra Pradesh.

This will enable the State to add 500 MW. Equivalent power can be provided to these States through power exchanges at about Rs 3 to Rs 3.50/unit. Prices of power in the North are lower compared with the South and there is also the difficultly of evacuation to South due to limitations of the grid.

Andhra Pradesh now spends about Rs 7/unit.

Allocation

The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to consider allocation of 231 MW from NTPC Jhajjar till end of May 2013 to meet the present critical power crisis.

Reddy sought unallocated share of Central generating stations of southern region up to 500 MW, including 300 MW from the Kudankulam atomic power plant and 75 MW from expansion of Neyveli Lignite Corporation.

Urging the Minister to direct NTPC to generate 500 MW from the fourth unit at Simhadri, the Chief Minister said that Andhra Pradesh would be able to get 210 MW power as per arrangements.

rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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