Stories
Keralam to Craft Long-Term Power Plan Amid Shortage, Says CM Satheesan
- •Keralam Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced plans for a long-term power procurement strategy to ensure electricity supply from October 1 until the next monsoon.
- •A meeting will be held to discuss the power crisis, secure agreements for coming months, and address long-term requirements, including potential six-to-eight-month or longer-term agreements.
- •Satheesan highlighted three major issues: absence of a long-term power purchase agreement, a sharp rise in consumption, and reduced power availability in the market.
- •The previous 25-year power purchase agreement for 465 MW was cancelled during the Left government's tenure without an alternative, leading to the current shortage.
- •Keralam has secured 150 MW from Nuclear Power Corporation at Rs 4.65 per unit and expedited maintenance on a 150-MW generating unit, adding 650 MW, but still faces a 1,000 MW gap.
Key Questions Answered
Keralam is working out a long-term power procurement plan to ensure adequate electricity supply from October 1 until the next monsoon. As immediate measures, the state has secured 150 MW from the Nuclear Power Corporation, brought a maintenance unit back into operation, and arranged an additional 650 MW of power.
The state is experiencing a power shortage due to the absence of a long-term power purchase agreement after a previous 25-year agreement was cancelled, a sharp consumption increase of about 950 MW compared to last September, and reduced power availability across India.
Keralam is examining the feasibility of floating solar projects, pumped-storage facilities, and developing community-level battery storage systems with local bodies to meet long-term power needs.
