Energy Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy has said that the demand for electricity is likely to increase significantly in the coming years due to sustained economic growth.
“After March 2023 it is likely to cross 250 million units per day (MU). Therefore, power utilities must be ready for the challenge,” Mr Ramachandra Reddy called upon the officials in a virtual meeting on Sunday.
On this occasion, Mr. Ramachandra Reddy observed that the Indian power sector was undergoing a significant transformation, and competition intensified, resulting in a clamor for existing resources.
Keeping this in mind, the Andhra Pradesh government has taken all steps to strengthen the power sector, he said.
As part of this, the government provided huge financial support to the discoms and was in the process of increasing production and further strengthening the transmission and distribution network.
Emphasis was laid on completion of 800 MW units at Shree Damodaram Sanjivaiya Thermal Power Station and Dr. Narla Tata Rao Thermal Power Station. At the same time the government was trying to realize the full potential of solar and wind energy. In addition, it planned pumped hydroelectric storage projects, he said.
Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K. Vijayananda said that the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology had mentioned in its report that Andhra Pradesh had favorable environmental conditions in the short and long term for setting up wind power generation.
AP-Transco CMD B Sridhar; Joint Managing Director I. Prithvi Tej; Discom CMD K. Santosh Rao and J. Padma Janardhan Reddy; and AP New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation vice chairman S. Ramana Reddy were also present.