Keeping in mind the increased coal requirements of the Raichur Thermal Power Station (RTPS) and the Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS), the State government has planned to make an agreement with Telangana State (TS).
Speaking to presspersons at Shakti Nagar guest house on Friday evening, G. Kumar Naik, Managing Director of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL), said that the pact would ensure the supply of around 7 million tonnes of coal annually.
At present, KPCL is purchasing 4-5 million tonnes of coal from Singareni Collieries Company Ltd., a company jointly owned by the Telangana government and the Union government.
“The pact will help meet our coal requirements as the commercial power generation in YTPS will soon start. Besides, we are also purchasing coal from West Bengal and Odisha as well,” he said.
Mr. Naik said that the KPCL’s units had generated about 25 per cent of the power that Karnataka consumed in the last April and May by running its units at optimum level.
“Power requirements rose to 290 million units a day during April and May. KPCL met 25 per cent of it. The rest was arranged from central generating stations and private players. Since the demand has currently fallen to around 135 million units a day, we have shut down some units of the thermal stations and generating from hydel stations. Since the State is receiving better rainfall, the hydel stations are contributing better,” he said.
Mr. Naik said that the State had planned to build more thermal stations, including one in Kalaburagi, considering the increasing demand for power. “We have approached the Union government seeking assurance for coal supply. Our proposal is yet to be accepted,” he said.
As per the details provided by Mr. Naik, trial run is on in Unit-3 (with an installed capacity of 700 MW) of Bellary Thermal Power Station and Unit-1 and Unit-2 of YTPS (with an installed capacity of 800 MW each). All these three units are expected to be commissioned next year. Another 700-mw gas-based power project at Bidadi near Bengaluru, which is taken up at the cost of Rs. 1,571 crore, is expected to be completed by 2018.
