Govt to Overcome power shortage

Chennai: The total generating capacity available to Tamil Nadu Electricity Board is around 10,100 MW. This comprises 5,597 MW of TNEB’s own generating stations, 1154 MW of private sector power plants, 2861 MW as share from Central sector generating stations, external assistance of 335 MW and others (captive power plants) of 175 MW.

Apart from this, a total capacity of 3693 MW is available from wind mills in the private sector, 451.6 MW from co-generation plants and 104.85 MW from bio-mass plants.

The maximum peak demand so far reached is 9,076 MW (as on February 20, 2008). The growth of energy consumption is expected to be of the order of 9 per cent per annum. Energy consumption during 2007-08 up to February 2008 is 60,518 million units (MU) with a maximum daily consumption of 191.283 MU during 2007-08.

Tamil Nadu consumes 180 million units of electricity each day. The anticipated demand in 2008-09 is estimated at 9,500 MW. The sustained peak demand for power has been going up at a fast pace. This, coupled with the absence of capacity additions, has caused a temporary blip in the power situation in the state.

The sustained peak demand, which was 6,957 MW in 2002-03, rose to 7,228 MW (2003-04), 7,473 MW (2004-05), 8,209 MW (2005-06), 8,803 MW (2006-07) and during 2007-08 it is 9,076 MW. The sustained peak which was increasing by 200 to 300 MW every year has phenomenally increased by 500 to 600 MW for the past two years.

In the last several years, there has been practically no capacity addition. After the present government came to power, it initiated action to create capacities — which should come in the next few years. In the interregnum, there is bound to be some shortage. The government is trying to bridge the gap by purchasing power from other states and encouraging use of captive power by industries. Wind power should kick-in in the summer months and provide relief.

TNEB to spend Rs 925 crore on co-gen plants.A number of power projects are coming up, but an interesting development is the decision of the state government to put up co-generation plants in 15 co-operative and two public sector sugar mills in the State. The TNEB will invest nearly Rs 925 crore over the next two year in this project to create an additional capacity of 185 MW.

During 2008-09, under State Sector, the Periyar Vaigai Barrage Projects phase-1 (2 x 2 MW), 2 (2 x 1.25 MW) and phase-4 (2 x 1.25 MW) totalling 9 MW will be commissioned. Under the Central sector, the second unit of 220 MW capacity from the Kaiga Atomic Power Station, Stage II and the first unit of 1000 MW capacity of Kudankulam Atomic Power Project, Stage I, will be commissioned during 2008-2009. A share of 53 MW and 463 MW respectively will be made available to TNEB from the above two projects.

In the State sector, orders for setting up of 600 MW Plant at North Chennai Thermal Power Station have been placed and another 600 MW is proposed to be added at the same place. At Mettur Thermal Power Station, tenders for establishment of 500 MW Plant under EPC basis have been called for.

Similarly, works for setting up Power Plants of 1000 MW capacity at Tuticorin Thermal Power Station and 500 MW at Ennore Thermal Power Station are at an advanced stage and tenders will be floated soon.

Under the joint venture route, orders for setting up of 2 x 500 MW Power Plant have been placed on EPC basis at North Chennai to be executed by NTECL which is a joint venture of TNEB with National Thermal Power Corporation. One more unit of 500 MW is proposed to be added at the same place. The project to set up 1000 MW Plant at Tuticorin by the joint venture with Neyveli Lignite Corporation is awaiting clearance from Government of India. Once the clearances are obtained, the project activities will be taken up.

Yet another joint venture with BHEL for setting up 2 x 800 MW Power Plant at Udangudi is planned. The Government of Tamil Nadu has issued orders for permitting the T