As per the target set by AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who is determined to achieve self-sufficiency in power sector on sustained basis, the APTRANSCO has finalised an action plan for improving the infrastructure facilities in transmission and distribution systems and expedited implementation of green corridor projects. It was contemplated to invest around Rs 6,000 crore for strengthening the transmission network in Andhra Pradesh, including Capital Region Development Area.
The Transmission Projects include under-ground cabling, gas-insulated sub-stations, transmission and sub-transmission system improvement. The State government has directed APTRANSCO to complete the first phase of Wind Power Evacuation by March this year. Accordingly, a high-level meeting on evacuation works to be chaired by Energy Secretary Ajay Jain will be held at Vijayawada soon.
CMD/APTransco & MD/APGenco K. Vijayanand, who held a review meeting on execution of transmission and distribution projects and performance indicators of the sector with Advisor, Energy Dept K. Ranganatham, Director Finance P. Dinesh, Director Projects S. Subramanyam, Director (Grid, Transmission Management) Nagaraja Swamy, Chairman-Managing Director APSPDCL H.Y. Dora, and Chairman Managing Director, APEPDCL R. Mutyala Raju said with Rs 1,900-crore investments so far in transmission lines, the Transmission losses of APTRANSCO were reduced from 4% to 3.34% through System strengthening and Power Evacuation, which is a national record. The T&D losses were also reduced from 13.24% (projected) to 10.30% (FY2015-16 till September), which has avoided power purchase of 840MU(Rs.363Cr) for FY2015-16 till September.
APTRANSCO has further geared up to reduce T & D losses to 9.00% by enabling real-time energy auditing, Replacement of Defective meters with Non-MRI High Accuracy Meters etc., apart from strengthening of the overall Transmission & Distribution (T&D) network. Under the wind power transmission scheme for evacuation of 3150MW under Green energy corridor, which covers 3Nos 400kV Substations, 8Nos 220KV Substations, 555Km of 400KV lines, 571km of 220kV lines, the first phase of works for evacuation of 2000MW at a cost of Rs.2085.41 Crs (REC funding) are at the verge of completion. The Government of India(GOI) has sanctioned Rs.515Crs as a grant for the 2nd phase of the Corridor while KfW, Germany is funding Rs.515Crs.
In accordance with the directions of State Govt to set up Extra High Voltage (400kV) Substation in each district, preparation of technical report is under process. Further, as a part of establishing 400kV Ring-main around Capital region, 400kV substations are going to be established in Eluru, Chilakaluripeta, Gudivada, Tulluru/Inavaolu. Apart from these one No. 400kV SS is going to be established in Rachaganneru, Chittoor District, said CMD. Giving equal importance for improvement of Plant Load Factor(PLF) in APGENCO plants, all efforts are being made to improve the PLF from existing 85% to 90%. APGENCO has maintained Highest PLF of 80.71%for the period of 2014-2015 (Higher than NTPC PLF reported @ 80.23% in same year),with highest availability factor amongst State Utilities for Thermal Coal based power plant. APGenco has initiated special plan for implementation of Energy Efficiency in Forthcoming Thermal Power Projects. (NSS)