Addl natural gas allocated for power production

HYDERABAD: Following a recent request made by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to Union petroleum minister S Jaipal Reddy, the central government has allocated additional natural gas of 0.63 MMSCMD, which will be sufficient to generate 130 MW of power, to independent power producers in the state. At present, the power demand is around 260 MU (million units) a day and Discoms are able to supply around 222 MU. The shortfall is being managed by imposing power cuts to domestic, agricultural and industrial sectors.APTransco purchased 19.75 MU from outside the state from all possible sources on Thursday.With the timely allocation of 0.63 MMSCMD gas, the state will be able to generate 130 MW of power to cater the need at regulated price.Immediately after the principal secretary (energy) had received the communication from Delhi, the state government directed the power utilities to commence the additional gas supplies to ease the power supply position.The Centre asked the state to send a detailed report on utilisation of additional natural gas supplies to IPPs— Spectrum Power (0.29 MMSCMD), Lanco Kondapalli Phase-I (0.11), Reliance Infra (0.03) and GVK Industries (0.2).ONGC and GAIL were directed to ensure transport/marketing of the gas.With the additional allocation of natural gas from ONGC-nominated blocks, the state will avail this opportunity on a permanent and firm basis.