Srinagar, 26 November (KNB): In a press release issued by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, it has been announced that the Administrative Council (AC) of the Union Territory, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has given the green light for the purchase of an extra 500 MW of firm power from the Ministry of Power (MOP). This move aims to meet the Base Load power requirement of the Union Territory (UT) during the winter season.
The meeting, attended by officials including Advisor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar and Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, emphasized the necessity of allocating 500 MW of firm power from MOP in B(v) mode with procurement facilitated by PFC. This step becomes essential to bridge the gap between power demand and availability during the winter months, where hydropower’s contribution significantly diminishes.
Recognizing the increasing energy demand in Jammu and Kashmir, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10%, the AC approved the signing of a fresh Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between J&K Power Corporation Limited (JKPCL) and NTPC for Singrauli-III, a thermal power station crucial for meeting power requirements during the winter season.
Singrauli-II, being a must-run thermal power station becomes instrumental in supporting J&K’s power needs when hydropower generation from Independent Power Producers (ISGS) drops significantly during winter.
The reduction ranging from 70-90% compared to summer generation poses a challenge that the approved PPA seeks to address.
By securing additional power through this agreement Jammu and Kashmir anticipate overcoming the power shortage challenges faced during the lean winter season.-KNB