State to purchase 200 MW power

Bengaluru: In order to tide over the energy crisis looming large over the State, the Energy Department is looking at Gautam Adani, who is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for purchase of 200 MW power. The State Govt. has inked a deal for purchasing 200 MW power from Adani-owned Thermal Power Plant, starting from Dec.1. Apart from this, the State Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar is said to be in touch with Adani Group for purchase of coal blocks. The State Government needs 65,000 metre tonnes of coal everyday to run its three Thermal Power Plants. But the Centre is supplying only 25 to 30,000 metric tonnes per day. In order to offset this shortfall, the Energy Department is looking at Adani Group for additional coal supplies, besides purchasing 200 MW of power. The Adani-owned Udupi Thermal Power Plant, which produces 1200 MW power everyday, has agreed to sell power to the State at Rs. 3.40 per unit. As the proposal has been approved by KERC and the State Cabinet, the Energy Dept. will be purchasing 200 MW power from Dec.1.