The Andhra Pradesh Government has requested the Centre and Coal India Ltd to increase coal supplies to help generate additional power in the State.
The State has also requested NTPC Simhadri project located near Vizag to step up power generation. This will help the State get its full share 1,400 MW allotted to Andhra Pradesh.
Additional coal allotment to the State will optimise the thermal generation. In a separate statement, the Union Railway Ministry was requested to provide sufficient railway rakes for transportation of coal to APGenco and NTPC projects.
The State Principal Secretary, Energy, M. Sahoo, held discussions with NTPC and suggested to them to consider import of coal for Simhadri plant.
By stepping up output, the State would be able to gain from additional power generation.
NTPC is supplying 800 MW to Andhra Pradesh from Simhadri plant as against the State’s full share of 1,400 MW due to severe shortage of coal particularly from Mahanadi Coalfields, Orissa. This has resulted in shortage of 600 MW, the State said.
During a recent visit to Bhubaneswar, the Principal Secretary discussed the matter of coal supplies with Mahanadi Coalfields and requested them to enhance coal supplies.
Coal demand in the country has been growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 7 per cent and its production has gone up by 4.6 per cent. Coal imports are set to touch 80-85 million tonnes during 2012-13, as against 50 mt during 2011-12.