The Andhra Pradesh Government plans to adopt a three-pronged strategy to tackle the severe power crisis in the state.

To tide over the present power shortage and overcome the demand supply gap, the State plans to optimise power generation, reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses and implement effective energy management and focus on conservation.

Minnie Mathew, the State Chief Secretary, who was recently appointed as Chairperson of State Energy Conservation Mission, will hold a meeting of the mission later in the third week of October

During a brief review with M. Sahoo, Principal Secretary, Energy; Hiralal Samariya, Chairman and Managing Director of AP Transco, and other senior officials, on Saturday evening, she emphasised the need to focus on energy efficiency and conservation as a part of three-pronged strategy.

In spite of concerted efforts on enhancing generation capacity, inadequate coal and natural gas supplies, reduced inflows into Hydel reservoirs, limited transmission corridor facility are posing major challenges in meeting the ever increasing power demand.

Due to fuel crisis, the generating stations are able to utilize only 10,400 MW capacity (65 per cent) as against the total installed capacity of around 16,000 MW.

Abnormal rise in power demand has made the situation more critical. Severe shortage of fuel has led to imposing power restrictions to protect the grid stability.

Apart from requesting the Centre for getting additional power and fuel, the State has directed AP Genco to expedite power projects. About 4000 MW additional generation capacity will be added by 2014.

The Power Grid Corporation is likely to complete the connectivity between the southern and north eastern and western grid by the end of 2013.

The meeting to be chaired by the Chief Secretary will involve officials from departments of energy, urban development, agriculture, industries and corporation for renewable energy.

>rishikumar.vundi@thehindu.co.in

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