Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister P. Thangamani called on Union Minister of State for Power Piyush Goyal in Delhi on Friday and discussed various projects of the State, including the 4,000 MW ‘ultra mega’ power project at Cheyyur.
According to an official release, the land acquisition and environment clearance for the project was complete and the State government requested the Centre “to finalise the bidding documents early with an option for using domestic coal, which will bring down the cost of the power.” Besides discussing the implementation of the UDAY scheme and raising of bonds to take over Tangedco’s debts, Mr. Thangamani also requested that the entire power generated from the third and fourth units of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant of 2,000 MW be allocated to Tamil Nadu, “considering the extraordinary lengths to which the State government has gone to ensure the smooth commissioning” of the project.
Green corridor
The Minister also requested the Centre to expedite the process of establishing the inter-State green energy corridor to enable Tamil Nadu sell surplus wind energy to the needy States. Tamil Nadu has “plans to add another 4,500 MW of wind power and 5,000 MW of solar power in the next five years and it was in a position to sell about 1,000 MW of wind power to other States,” it added.
Emphasising the State’s demand for scrapping frequency-linked penalty for renewable energy, it was contended that imposition of penalty for integrating renewable energy was “highly unfair” and was “contrary” to the renewable energy policy of the Centre.
The Minister referred to the damage suffered due to Cyclone Vardah and sought ₹17,000 crore either as grant or as a soft loan, for restoring the power infrastructure.
