Tamil Nadu to surpass its target of adding 20,000 MW electricity

Electricity demand is increasing by around 13-14% in the state annually

Tamil Nadu will surpass its targeted 20,000-Mw additional power generation capacity envisaged in the state's Vision 2023 document, said Natham R Viswanathan, state minister for Electricity, in his address at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) meet recently.

CV Sankar, additional chief secretary (industries), Tamil Nadu government, said in the last three years Tangedco had taken up projects worth Rs 25,000 crore, leading to additional 4,640-Mw power capacity.

In 2012-13, he said the peak deficit in the state was at 1,683-MW, whereas in 2014-15 (till January) it had improved to 165-Mw. Maximum power demand in 2012-13 stood at 12,736-Mw, which has increased to 13,663-Mw.

Electricity demand in the state has been growing at 13-14 per cent due to a rise industrial activity, said Sankar.He claimed MoUs worth Rs 31,670 crore had been inked for the industrial sector investment in the state. He said projects worth Rs 9,379 crore had been sanctioned through the single-window clearance mechanism, while projects worth Rs 17,134 crore were ready to be signed.

Some of the upcoming power projects in the state include Ennore (800-Mw), Ennore SEZ (660-MWw), Udangudi (4X660-Mw), super critical (5X660 -Mw), North Chennai (800-Mw), Uppur Thermal Power Project (2X800-Mw), Ennore Alternative (660-Mw), Udangudi (2X660-Mw), Cheyyur UMPP (4000-Mw), Vallur (350-Mw) and Nilagiri hydro power (2000-Mw).

From the Kudankulam Nuclear Plant's Unit-II, electricity minister Viswanathan said the state would get 462 -Mw next year; 567-Mw from Centre's share in two projects being implemented by Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) along with state electricity Board, said the minister.

The minister further said power purchase agreement (PPAs) had been inked for 200-Mw (solar) at Rs 7.01 per unit. “By Mar-Apr-end, we may finalise PPA's to the extent of 1000-Mw in solar energy,” he said.