Tamil Nadu asks for additional coal block allocation

The Tamil Nadu government has urged the Centre to allocate one more coal block to in order to expedite the transmission system and reduce the reliability margin to 500 Mw. This, it said, would also enable the state to harness power from other regions.

TN had applied for allocation of one coal block and has now sought one more.

Speaking at a conference in Guwahati today, electricity minister Natham R Viswanathan urged the coal ministry to allocate Mahanadi and Machchakata coal blocks since GarePelma Sector II coal block had already been allotted to Maharashtra State Power Generation Corporation Limited. The allocation will help meet the ongoing and upcoming five thermal projects in Tamil Nadu.

An all-time high peak demand of 13,775 Mw was met by Tangedco on June 24, 2014, and energy consumption of 293.97 mu was met on June 20, 2014. The installed capacity of conventional energy sources and non-conventional energy sources of TN Generation and Distribution Corporation Limited stood at 13,231.44 Mw and 8400.71 Mw  respectively as on February 28, 2015.

Stating the power deficit of 4,000 Mw in the first half of 2011 was systematically overcome, he said additional flow of 4,991.5 Mw to the state had been ensured by commissioning of new power stations in central and state sector and through medium and long-term power purchase agreements. This helped increase state’s daily average power supply from 200 million units to 260 million units.

The minister also sought immediate environment clearance for the commissioning of  Tangedco-NLC JV  at Tuticorin 2x500 Mw.Viswanathan said, Tamil Nadu has been the leader in the generation of wind energy with a capacity of more than 7300 MW.

He added Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission has fixed a tariff of Rs 7.01 per unit and the state is planning expeditious addition in solar generation capacity of 3000 M.W. on present tariff within this finanacial year (2015-16).

"The evacuation infrastructure may be allowed for funding under the central schemes", said the Minister.