In view of the sharp rise in the demand for electricity and severe shortage of coal for power generation, the State government has started working on long term plans to address the issue and fulfil future energy needs. It has decided to procure power from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to the tune of 7,000 MW at a cost-effective rate of ₹2.49 per unit, against the prevailing power exchange rate of ₹12-16 per unit, according to Energy Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy.
Reviewing the power supply position with the power utilities in the State, Mr. Ramachandra Reddy said the government had given a guarantee on supply of reliable power to farmers in the next 25 years. Despite coal shortage, the needs of the agriculture sector would not be compromised and the SECI would supply solar power to the tune of 3,000 MW in the first tranche from September 2024 and 3,000 MW in the second tranche from September 2025 and 1,000 MW in the third tranche from September 2026.
Energy Secretary B. Sreedhar said the AP Power Development Corporation Limited (APPDCL) had already called tenders to procure 1 lakh tonnes of better grade imported coal to augment generation at the Krishnapatnam thermal power plant.
