Tamil Nadu’s power demand, which is around 13,000-13,500 MW, is expected to go up to 14,500 MW by the end of 2014-2015, Electricity Minister Natham R. Viswanathan said on Monday.
Replying to the debate in the Assembly on the demands for grants of the Energy Department, he said the enhanced demand would be met through generation from the existing stations, and from projects to be commissioned during the year, besides power purchase.
He pointed out that 2,000 MW was expected to be added to the State’s grid this year. Of this, 350 MW would come from the third unit of the TNEB-NTPC Vallur joint venture project; 387 MW from two units of the TNEB-NLC Tuticorin JV project; 463 MW from the second unit of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNNP); and 230 MW from the Neyveli Thermal Power Station-II Expansion.
In addition, the State was to get 562 MW from the KKNNP’s first unit, which reached its maximum capacity of 1,000 MW in June. In the last three years, 2,792.5 MW was added to the State’s grid.
Of the new projects, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would shortly hand over work orders to successful bidders for the Ennore SEZ and Udangudi thermal power projects, with each proposing to generate 1,320 MW.
The request for proposal documents for the 4,000-MW Cheyyur Ultra Mega Power Project, being developed by the Union government, would be opened on September 22. The State had completed acquisition of 1,100 acres.
Referring to a question of B. Parthasarathy of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Mr. Viswanathan said 10 per cent of liquidated damages had been imposed on the contractor for the delay in the execution of the project for establishing 600 MW at the Mettur thermal power station.
The Minister said the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation had enough stock of meters. Orders had been placed for the purchase of 50.78 lakh meters.
