The Andhra Pradesh Government is banking on Central Government support and funding from Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (RFC) for two of its projects to shore up the sector and provide 24x7 power supply to households and industries.
Following assurance from the Centre to take up Andhra Pradesh as a pilot project for 24x7 hours supply, the State plans to expedite the commissioning of the projects.
According to K. Vijayanand, Managing Director of AP Genco, the Krishnapatnam Unit I of 800 mw, which has already been commissioned, is expected to generate about 300 mw by Saturday and operate at full capacity by July.
AP Genco has also informed the boiler light up of Unit II was completed today and is expected to be commissioned by September this year. And another 600 mw unit of Rayalaseema thermal power project will be commissioned by December next year.
As a part of the expansion projects, the REC and PFC have in principle agreed to extend a loan of ₹7,842 crore for Dr NTTPS Stage V of 800 mw in Vijayawada and Krishnapatnam Stage II of 800 mw in Nellore. While the total cost of these two units is about ₹10,462 crore, these will fund ₹7,842 crore.
The Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal has assured the State Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu to allot additional wagons for supply of coal through NTPC dedicated railway line for the State. This is expected to help generate additional 500 mw within next two-three months.
According to Ajay Jain, State Energy Secretary, efforts are now underway to complete these projects in time to meet the power demand. The State Utilities are now able to supply 126 million units per day as against a total demand of 147 mu, leaving a deficit gap of 21 mu.