Preventive steps put in place, no load shedding: Energy minister

 Energy Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said there will be no load shedding in the state despite Karnataka facing the worst drought in the past 25 to 30 years.

The water storage in dams across the state is just 45%. Power generation has been stopped at hydel stations, including Sharavati power plant, to conserve water. However, precautionary measures have been taken to ensure adequate power supply. The government is ready to purchase 1,000 MW of power at Rs 3.70 per unit to overcome shortage. Currently, sufficient power is being produced in the state but shortfall during the peak period is 600 MW to 700 MW, he said at a press conference here.

“On Saturday, the Bellary Thermal Power Station’s Unit 3, with installed capacity of 700 MW, started generating power on Saturday. The Yeramarus Thermal Power Station (two units 800X2) has begun trial operations,” he said. On Raichur Thermal Plant Station (RTPS), he  said the average life of a thermal power plant was 25 years and the RTPS was 30 years old. A study will be conducted by a consultative committee to revive the plant. Efforts have also been made to store fly ash. The state has secure energy through thermal power plants, he added.

On establishing nuclear power plant in the state, he said the Centre preferred land next to sea. But obtaining land was difficult in the state’s coastal areas.

In the next three to four years, the government aims to produce 5,000 MW solar power. Power generation will begin at world’s largest Solar power plant in Pavagad taluk, Tumakuru district, next year. The Centre had asked the state to increase the production of renewable energy to 6,000 MW by 2020, he said.