The 100 MW power plant of Kuttiadi Additional Extention project at Kakkayam near here would be commissioned in March as Government was taking steps to achieve self-sufficiency to meet the state’s growing power needs, Electricity Minister A K Balan said on Saturday.
Laying works of 2,100 metre “penstock pipes ‘ from the Kuttiadi river had been completed while works of the remaining 330 metre pipeline would be over by January end and the plant would be commissioned in March next enhancing its total power generation capacity to 225 MW, the Minister said.
The commissioning of the new plant would help Kerala meet its peak time power requirement and the government has accorded top priority in achieving self-sufficiency in power generation by setting up 730 MW capacity power plants in the next five years, Mr. Balan told reporters after reviewing the works progress at the Kakkyam plant.
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The government has decided to set up 2,300 MW thermal and gas plants at Cheemeni in northern Kasaragod district and the project would be completed in 10 years, he said.
The required 2,400 acre land for the Cheemeni power plant had been identified. Kerala has signed an agreement with Orissa to mine coal for setting up a 1,000 MW plant to cater to the growing power needs of the State.