Power plant plan put on hold in Srikakulam

VIJAYAWADA:

Power-surplus Andhra Pradesh

has put on hold the proposal to build a coal-fired power plant in collaboration with

Japan's Sumitomo Corporation

in

Polaki Mandal

of

Srikakulam district

.

Confirming the development to TOI on Tuesday , a senior government official said the plan to build a 4,000 mw ultra super critical thermal power plant in Polanki has been deferred temporarily. He said the project plans may be revived in the future, if electricity demand increases. This is the second time that a proposal by APGENCO to set up a power plant in Srikakulam has been put on hold. Earlier, APGENCO planned a 2,400 mw plant in Srikakulam, but the plant works were never grounded. When N Chandrababu Naidu became chief minister in 2014, the plant proposal was revived with enhanced capacity of 4,000 mw. This time Naidu want ed to build the plant in collaboration with Japan's Sumitomo Corporation, which was to act as

EPC contractor

.

After Naidu's government signed the MoU with Sumitomo Corporation, representatives of the Japanese company inspected three project sites identified by the Srikakulam district administration. The team visited Kanimetta in Etcherla Mandal and Luklam in Narsananpeta Mandal, besides Polaki. The Japanese team found Polaki feasible to set up the plant due to its proximity to the proposed Kalingaptanam port for coal suuply, which will be imported from Australia.

“We have temporarily deferred AP Genco's proposal to set up a coal-fired power plant in Srikakulam as there is no demand for power. Currently , we have surplus power. We will consider the proposal when the power demand goes up,“ principal secretary to state government Ajay Jain told TOI.

The total installed utility power generation capacity in Andhra Pradesh is nearly 21,000 mw and only 13,688.80 mw is the committed power supply to the state with power purchase agreements. Rest of the capacity is exporting electricity mainly to Telangana depending on fuel availability .It is learnt 41% of power requirement of the state is met by solar, wind energy .

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