State govt rejects Centre's power offer, says it's expensive

The State government has refused the offer made by the Centre to supply power to Karnataka to tide over shortage this summer saying it was “way too expensive.”

Last Friday (February 26), Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal assured a delegation of Union ministers from Karnataka to supply of 317 MegaWatt (MW) power to the State on a daily basis till March-end. The cost of the power supplied by the Centre was Rs 5.75 per unit.

Energy Minister DK Shivakumar told Deccan Herald that he said no to the power from the Centre as other cheaper options were available for the State. He said that the State had an agreement with the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) to supply 450 MW power at Rs 4.80 per unit.

“The power has already started flowing to the State from Monday night through the national grid,’’ he said. 

Following an unexpected breakdown of the State’s major hydel power supplier Sharavathy Generation Station (SGS) and raising mercury levels, the demand-supply gap for power in Karnataka increased from 2,500 MW to 3,775 MW per day.  SGS alone accounted for daily power generation of 1,275 MW. Total estimated power requirement of the State is 10,000 MW per day. A few weeks ago, Shivakumar had written Goel seeking 1,000 MW power to meet the demand this summer.

Synchronisation of plants
Meanwhile, the government is also hopeful of adding another 800 MW from Yeramarus Thermal Plant coming up at Raichur. The Energy department is hopeful of successful synchronisation of the first unit of the State’s first supercritical thermal plant at Yeramarus before the end of this summer.  The 2X800 MW project is a joint venture of the State and India’s public sector major Bharath Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). Synchronisation of the first unit which was planned last month delayed again due to technical snags.

Meanwhile, first unit of the 2400 (3X800) MW super thermal power plant at Kudgi in Vijayapura district is likely to be synchronised with the grid on March 18. Like all thermal plants, it will be oil synchronisation followed by coal. The power is likely to flow from June or July, sources said.

As per the agreement, Karnataka is set to get 50 per cent of the total power generated from the National Thermal Power Corporation  (NTPC) plant at Kudgi.  
DH News Service