KTPS, Lanco likely to resume generation on 29th

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HYDERABAD: It seems that the energy department might be able to improve the power situation in the next couple of days. The depart..

HYDERABAD: It seems that the energy department might be able to improve the power situation in the next couple of days. The department has been under fire recently for proposing a steep hike in power tariffs added to the continuing power cuts.
With the 500 MW Kakatiya Thermal Power Station set to resume operation along with Lanco's 200 MW gasbased plant, the department is hoping to to at least reduce loadshedding, which have been affecting consumers, especially farmers adversely. "The 700 MW addition in the next couple of days is substantial, since the demand supply gap is about 1,000 MW," principal secretary (Energy) Dinesh Kumar said. With the local body elections set to be held early next year, the energy department is under pressure to ease power cuts. However, the department can do very little about the hike in power tariff. Only if the government agrees to bear a portion of the burden, can the power utilities smoothen the blow on consumers.

On the supply side, the nonfunctioning KTPS and Lanco Kondapalli units have hit hard on the power generation capacity. Ever since the Sakala Janula Samme began on September 13, the former was closed down as coal supplies dwindled. But even after the general strike was called off, the unit has remained nonoperational due to technical problems, forcing officials to go in for overhauling of the unit, done usually once a year.

"We propose to synchronise the unit with the grid on Wednesday night itself or on Thursday. Lanco Kondapalli too would be in operation and since it is a gasbased station, starting the unit will be quicker," Dinesh Kumar said.