Karnataka - Bangalore

KPCL to set up thermal units to generate 3,000 MW by 2012

Staff Reporter

DPRs being prepared for thermal units with a total capacity of 6,500 MW

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Group discussion: (From left) Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Managing Director of Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. L.V. Nagarajan and adviser to the Chief Minister K.C. Reddy at the inauguration of a national seminar on ‘Power development in the 11th Plan and beyond’, in Bangalore on Saturday.

Bangalore: Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd. (KPCL) has been asked to set up thermal stations to generate 3,000 MW by 2012.

This was stated by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy while inaugurating a national seminar on ‘Power development in the 11th Plan and beyond’ organised by KPCL on the occasion of its foundation day here on Saturday. Detailed project reports were being prepared for thermal power plants with a total capacity of 6,500 MW.

He said the major issue was the allotment of coal to the State to implement new projects. The Government could go ahead with power projects only with an assured supply of coal. “I have appealed to Union Energy Minister Sushilkumar Shinde to support the case of proven players like KPCL.”

Mr. Kumaraswamy, who is the Chairman of KPCL, said if new coal blocks were given, KPCL would start work on thermal plants to generate 3,000 MW immediately. The tendency to pre-empt States through multiple applications for coal blocks needed to be altered for the healthy development of the sector.

The Chief Minister said Karnataka was setting up two 500 MW units at the Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and requested the Centre to accord mega project status to the BTPS, which would make it eligible for tax concessions. KPCL, he said, was focussing on afforestation, control of emission levels, development of green belt and fly ash utilisation. The extent of afforestation in the Bellary and Raichur thermal plants was 235 hectares and 335 hectares respectively. Fly ash utilisation was about 78 per cent at the Raichur plant. Work on the 8th unit (250 MW) at Raichur had begun.

In order to setting up environment-friendly power plants, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the State Government planned to set up a 1,400-MW gas-based thermal power plant at Bidadi in Bangalore Rural district. He requested Mr. Shinde to supply gas, so that power generation could be started. The Chief Minister said the detailed project report on the 400-MW Gundia hydroelectric project had been submitted to the Central Electricity Authority for techno-economic clearance.

Later, he told presspersons that the Government would take up the issue of establishing a hydel project at Mekedatu, along the border with Tamil Nadu, as the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had given its final award.

Public Works and Energy Minister H.D. Revanna, who is the Vice-Chairman of KPCL, presided over the seminar. He said KPCL had an installed capacity of 5,000 MW and had been allotted projects with a total capacity of about 6,000 MW.

The electricity grid was being strengthened by setting up 110 kV, 220 kV and 400 kV substations throughout the State. Work on the 230-MW Varahi project was on schedule.

V.K. Garg, Chairman and Managing Director, Power Finance Corporation (PFC), commended the work done by KPCL. He said the Union Government required Rs. 75,000 crore to implement all projects outlined in the 11th and 12th Plans. He said the PFC was ready to finance transmission and distribution, non-conventional energy and bio-mass projects to meet the requirements of the State.

L.V. Nagarajan, Managing Director, KPCL, welcomed the gathering. R.P. Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, Power Grid Corporation of India, spoke. K.C. Reddy, adviser to the Chief Minister, released brochures on power projects.

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