As Nation Moves From Being Power Deficient To Surplus, Tamil Nadu Does The Opposite 

From being a power surplus state until two months ago, Tamil Nadu now faces power shortage. The shortage has been caused by flooding of coal mines in States like Orissa. Besides, a drop in wind power generation has also affected electricity supply in the State.

Times of India quoting State electricity minister P Thangamani said Tamil Nadu will be importing three million tonnes of coal by October and the centre has granted permission for it. Tenders for coal import have been floated, he said.

Tamil Nadu has run of coal stocks and it has asked the Centre to allocate it additional coal on a priority basis. The centre has come forward to make up the shortage to a great extent. Once the imports are made, Tamil Nadu’s situation on the coal front would be comfortable.

The Central Electricity Authority had projected that Tamil Nadu could end up with a surplus of 8,663 million units at the end of the 2017-18 fiscal. However, it actually ended with a 167 million units deficit. Power demand in the State has been unchanged for the last two years as demand from the industry was low.

However, things have changed drastically this year with demand improving. In addition, demand for power from farms, which have benefited from water being let out in the Cauvery due to heavy monsoon rains in Kerala and Karnataka, has put pressure on the electricity supply.

In addition, drop in wind power generation to 1,787 MW against a capacity to produce 8,255 MW and solar power generation to 327 MW against an installed capacity of 2,141 MW have compounded the situation.