AP contemplates to add Hydel capacity of 410 MW

Hyderabad, July 28 : The State of Andhra Pradesh which is having largest Hydel capacity in the Country with 3829 MW, is contemplating to achieve additional Hydel capacity of 410 MW by 2014-2015 with construction and commissioning of additional units at Nagarjuna Sagar, Pulichintala and Lower Jurala, etc, to meet the ever increasing demand of power due to changing lifestyles and increased usage of electrical appliances.

The First unit of Lower Jurala (80 MW) is likely to be commissioned within two months i.e. by September, 2013 and Second & Third units (each 80 MW) are to be commissioned by July, 2014. The Nagaruna Sagar Taipond unit of 50 MW and Pulichintala of 120 MW are expected to be completed by 2014-2015.

Disclosing the above details, Principal Secretary Energy M Sahoo, who has reviewed the future prospects of Hydel generation in view of good inflows from Krishna Godavari Basins, with Suresh Chanda, CMD/APTRANSCO and K Vijayanand, MD/APGENCO, D Prabhakar Rao, JMD/APGENCO and A Adhiseshu Director/Hydel on Saturday evening, said that it has been decided to optimize the power generation through Hydel units of APGENCO plants to the maximum extent possible to meet the requirements of electricity consumers.

The Prl. Secretary, who is also the Chairman of APGENCO further said that, it is a good beginning for Hydel generation with early monsoon and good inflows into various reservoirs in Andhra Pradesh both in the catchment areas and upper reaches of the reservoirs, which have brought considerable inflows into Hydel reservoirs. This helped APGENCO to generate 1015.76 MU till to date during FY 2013-14 as compared to 633.16 MU till this date last year with an increase of 382.6 MU (60.4 per cent). The Srisailam Hydro plant has started up and able to generate 700 MW as against its full capacity of 770 MW. The reservoir level at Srisailam has crossed 855 feet.

If this trend of inflows continues, even in the coming months, Govt. hopes to cross the targeted Hydel generation of 6755 MU for the year 2013-14.

It is pertinent to note that APGENCO Hydel units could generate 21.35 MU on 27.07.2013 as against 6.12 MU on the same day, last year with an increase of 15.23 MU. The good Hydel generation, which has lowest running cost, eased pressure on thermal plants and helped APGENCO for carrying out annual overhauling of 3 units of thermal power generating units to the tune of 770 MW capacity (RTPP-210 MW, Kothagudem TPS-60 MW and Kakatiya TPP-500 MW), on statutory requirements and to avoid sudden breakdowns due to technical problems in future. Presently all the power plants in the State together could generate 236.75 MU as against the total requirement of 248.25 MU with a deficit of 11.5 MU.   - INN