Coal news and updates

APGenco has not imported even a single tonne of coal from foreign countries after March 2015 as it could tie up domestic linkages for all thermal plants.

The supercritical power plant under stabilisation at Krishnapatnam in Nellore district is the lone exception as it required 10 to 20 per cent of imported coal due to its high calorific value design.

The Narla Tatarao Thermal Power Station (NTTPS) at Vijayawada and the Rayalaseema Thermal Power Plant in Kadapa district do not require coal to be imported from countries like Indonesia and Australia, said Principal Secretary (energy) Ajay Jain.

Briefing the media on the annual performance of the power sector here on Monday, Mr. Jain said the APGenco was buying washed coal which has low ash content like imported coal, which constitutes just about 10 per cent of the requirement of all thermal plants nowadays.

The balance is sourced from Coal India Limited and its subsidiaries.

Mr. Jain said investments totalling about Rs.1 lakh crore were committed to be made in generation, transmission and distribution sectors in the next five years. Top priority was given to High Voltage distribution system being funded by the Rural Electrification Corporation Limited and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Capacity additions

The capacity additions were being made on a large scale in the renewable space as the demand for energy grew at the rate of eight to 10 per cent every year.

The four 1000-MW solar parks coming up in Rayalaseema were a boon for the State. The National Thermal Power Corporation is executing the 1000-MW solar park near Kadiri in Anantapur district.

NTPC awarded four packages to Sun Edison (500 MW), Soft Bank (350 MW), Azure Power (100 MW) and Adani Power (50 MW) through competitive bidding for the 1000-MW solar park being established at Orvakal in Kurnool district.

The other two solar parks of equal capacities at Mylavaram near Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district and on Anantapur-Kadapa border are making good progress.

The APTransco and Discoms will be monitoring feeder loads at 2600 substations with the help of modems from June / July. The cables being laid under the Fibre Grid project provide them the Internet connectivity needed to keep track of loads on a real-time basis.

Steps were taken to install 10 lakh smart meters which would help in bringing down the aggregate technical and commercial losses to single digit levels, Mr. Jain added.

Sourcethehindu.com