Despite 4,000 MW crisis, state against buying power

Despite Maharashtra reeling under power shortage, the state government has no plans to buy the “costly” power from co-generation units of cooperative sugar mills.

There is a power deficit of 4,000 MW due to the closure of eight units because of technical reasons leading to loadshedding across the state.

In a statement on Friday, state power distribution utility Mahavitaran has attributed the 1,500 MW need-based load-shedding to the rise in demand for power and shortfall in its availability.

The rise in demand for power across the state is being attributed to unusually hot summer this year. The shortfall in power availability has touched 4,000 MW this year leading to loadshedding across the state.

As many as five power generation units of Koradi (660 MW), Khaparkheda (210 MW), Parli (250 MW), Adani (660 MW), Ratan India's two units of 270 MW each have shut down due to technical reasons.

To make matters worse, three power generating units have been shut down for repairs. These include Chandrapur (500 MW), Koradi (210 MW), Central government owned unit of Sipat and Tarapur atomic power plant units of 400 MW have been shut down already.

Maharashtra power minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had during the Budget Session in April said the state could not buy power from baggase based co-generation units of cooperative sugar mills as it was “costly”.

He had then said that when power was available at a much cheaper rate of Rs 3.15 per MW, then why should the government procure it at much costly rate of Rs 6.70 per MW from co-generation units.

Mahavitaran said at present temporary load-shedding of only 1,500 MW is being resorted to. The situation has improved with the availability of 700 MW of power from one generating unit of Adani power. It further claimed that this summer the demand for power has on an average increased by 2,000 MW as compared to last year.

Demand for power from Mahavitaran has shot up to 18,000 to 18,500 MW.

Mahavitaran has from Friday changed the timing of power availability for agriculture consumers who are supplied power from separate lines. While non-agricultural consumers will have to face load shedding of 400 to 600 MW only. Mahavitaran said that it has been making all out efforts to make power available through power exchange and power banking systems to end the load-shedding.