Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed the officials of the Energy Department to put all out efforts in ensure expeditious launch of works on the proposed power projects to ensure a capacity addition of close to 16,000 MW in five years.
As part of efforts to bridge the demand, which is expected to increase by 15 per cent in the coming years, the government has targeted to add new generation capacity of 15,869 MW. Of this, thermal power is expected to contribute 3,240 MW, solar energy (3,150 MW) and wind (7,030 MW) in addition to the proposed expansion of central generating stations to contribute an additional 1,949 MW.
The government is anticipating capacity addition of 2,655 MW by the end of the current financial year, 3,071 MW next year and another 3,529 MW by the end of fiscal year 2016-17. A major chunk of 5,800 MW energy from non renewable sources, particularly solar and wind, is expected to be added to the grid during 2017-18 and 2018-19.
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The Chief Minister reviewed the power supply situation and the progress of the proposed projects with senior officials including Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, who is also chairman of the State Energy Conservation Mission. According to the SECM officials, Mr. Naidu recalled how the State faced shortage of 22 million units a day post bifurcation and the steps including the power purchase agreements in the longer term initiated by the government to bridge the gap.
The proactive measures launched by the government ensured that the State could achieve zero deficit status within four months. Stressing the need for advance planning in realising the targets set by the government, Mr. Naidu wanted the officials to take steps to ensure that the projects were completed in a time bound manner so that the State would be in a position to meet the requirements in future when investments from national and multi-national companies in infrastructure and other projects would commence.