Satheesan government seeks long-term power supply from NTPC amid crisis
New Delhi/ Thiruvananthapuram: Facing growing criticism over widespread power cuts, the four-month-old UDF government in Kerala has initiated efforts to secure additional electricity from the Centre and ensure the state’s long-term energy security in collaboration with NTPC.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan held talks with NTPC officials in New Delhi on Wednesday as the power crisis turned into a major political issue for the government. The CPI(M)-led Opposition has alleged that the UDF government has failed to handle the situation effectively.
As part of the measures, Kerala has sought more power from NTPC along with support for battery storage and renewable energy projects to address the rising demand for electricity.
The government has proposed setting up a 2,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Kayamkulam jointly with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), NTPC and NTPC Green Energy Ltd. A memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed by the three agencies for the project.
Two additional BESS projects, each with a capacity of 80 MWh, are planned at Pothencode and Sreekandapuram. They are expected to be commissioned by March 2027, taking the combined capacity to 160 MWh.
Kerala is also set to receive up to 300 MW of electricity from NTPC’s Sinnar project in Maharashtra. The power will be supplied at Rs 5.18 per unit, as per the decisions taken during the discussions.
The state has further sought faster implementation of NTPC’s 27 MW solar power project at Kayamkulam. The government has assured full cooperation for the project’s progress.
NTPC has also been asked to explore the possibility of establishing a dedicated power plant for Kerala to meet its future electricity needs. The company has expressed readiness to sign a power purchase agreement for supplying power from its Ramagundam plant.
The discussions also focused on improving KSEB’s administrative and technical capacity. NTPC will extend professional and technical support to the state utility, including assistance for modern power-management systems.
The government’s move comes amid increasing power restrictions and cuts in Kerala, driven by a growing gap between electricity demand and supply. The Opposition has used the crisis to target the UDF government, claiming that consumers are paying the price for poor power management.
The government, however, has presented the NTPC initiatives as part of a wider plan to tackle the current shortage as well as Kerala’s future energy needs through increased power procurement, renewable energy and large-scale storage facilities.
(Inputs from IANS)