Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Nuclear power to help tide over crisis

MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is pinning its hopes on commissioning of the first unit of Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) by March end to reduce the power crisis in the State to some extent.

Delivering a lecture on “Energy Crisis - present scenario” here on Saturday, the TNEB Chief Engineer, Distribution, Madurai Region, K. Balasubramanian, said that the present power generation-demand gap was around 1,500 to 2,000 MW.

On commissioning the first unit of 1,000 MW by the KNPP, Tamil Nadu would get its share of 465 MW by March-end.

This was expected to improve the power situation during summer.

“In June/July, wind season will set in and wind power generation will improve to supplement the existing generation,” he said.

The State would get another 465 MW by December next year, when the KNPP second unit would be commissioned, he said.

Stating that super-critical thermal power plants, proposed at Udangudi, North Chennai and Cuddalore, would add 5,000 MW, Mr. Balasubramanian said that Tamil Nadu would become power surplus by 2011.

The Chief Engineer said that power shortage was being overcome through load shedding and imposing 40 per cent restriction on power consumption by industries and commercial users.

Efforts were on by the officials to check power theft. “Though we have been taking all efforts, people are coming up with innovative ideas to steal power,” he said pointing to an industrial unit using sensors and remote control unit to stop electricity meters.

Mr. Balasubramanian urged the people to conserve electricity to the most possible extent to help the TNEB overcome the shortage.

The lecture was organised by the Institution of Engineers (India), Madurai Local Centre. The centre’s chairman, S. Deenadayalan, and secretary, V. Dhanaraj, were present.

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