Karnataka to likely face power shortage this summer

Team Udayavani, Feb 2, 2018, 5:42 PM IST

Bengaluru: As a result of low rainfall and coal shortage power generation is relatively low this year.

According to Kumar Nayak, Executive Director of Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) the actual requirement of coal for all the stations in Karnataka is 136 lakh tonnes. This year round the state is getting only 56 lakh tonnes of coal. There is a shortage of around 79 lakh tonnes. To enhance power generation at Bellary Thermal Power Station (BTPS) and Yeragera Thermal Power Station (YTPS), 10 lakh tonnes of coal will be imported immediately, he added.

The power generation enhancement will be made as early to avoid any power cuts during examination times. A key element which is on the agenda is to supply good quality coal as substandard coal will reduce the capacity of power generation.

According to the statistics of power generation from both hydro and thermal power stations, this year Karnataka had generated 17,875 million units which is around 10 percent less compared to previous year, where 19,767 million units of power was generated.