KPCL to foray into mini hydel energy sector.
The Karnataka government is mulling the possibility of restricting private power producers from setting up mini hydel power projects surrounding the existing mega hydel stations set up by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) across the state.
This move is aimed at ensuring generation of hydel power by the state owned company at a reasonable cost and also to avoid competition for the government company, Shobha Karandlaje, minister for energy, government of Karnataka said.
“We have found that a large number of mini hydel power producers are using the infrastructure created by KPCL and producing power. In return they are selling the same power to state government at a higher tariff, thereby causing loss to the government in many ways,” she said.
She was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the 5 Mw grid connected solar photovoltaic power project being set up by KPCL at Belakawadi village near Shivasamudram hydel project in Mandya district.
“The KPCL has commissioned a survey of all the mini hydel stations in the vicinity of existing hydel stations of KPCL across the state. Once the report comes, we will take a decision on giving permits to such projects in the future,” Karandlaje said.
Presently, KPCL has commissioned mega hydel power stations along the Cauvery, Krishna, Sharavati and Kali river basins. All along these basins, the private producers have set up mini and small hydro power stations using the detailed project reports and infrastructure created by KPCL, she remarked.
Further, she said instead of allowing private producers to set up mini hydel stations in the future, the government was thinking of asking the KPCL to foray into mini hydro power sector.
The minister said there was an estimated potential of generating another 270 Mw of hydel power in the Cauvery river basin. But, expansion projects have been stalled because of the inter-state river dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
“Our plan is to achieve self sufficiency in power generation in the next two to three years. In this direction, we have planned many thermal power projects in Chhattisgarh, Yeramarus and Yedlapur in Raichur district and third unit of Bellary Thermal Power Station. However, all the projects are held up due to delay by the Centre in providing coal linkage,” she said.
Earlier, she laid the foundation stone for 5 Mw solar photo voltaic plant. This is the fourth such project being built by KPCL. It is also the first 5 Mw solar PV plant sanctioned allotted by NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) to KPCL under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in the country. So far, KPCL has commissioned three units of 3 Mw each in Kolar, Belgaum and Raichur districts.
The cost of the project is estimated at Rs 65 crore and the work is awarded to public sector power equipment maker, Bharat Heavy Electricity Limited (BHEL) on a turnkey basis. The project is estimated to be completed in seven months and it is designed to generate 8.32 million units per year.
