The Hindu : Front Page : VS call to ensure energy security

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Monday, May 26, 2008
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VS call to ensure energy security

Staff Reporter

Dedicates to the nation: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan inaugurating the 25-MW Neriamangalam Extension Scheme at Panamkutty in Idukki district on Sunday.

PANAMKUTTY (Idukki district): Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Sunday commissioned the 25-MW Neriamangalam Extension Scheme (NES).

Dedicating it to the nation, the Chief Minister stressed the need to focus on ensuring energy security for the State. Energy security was as important for the State as its food security, he said. The government was committed to adding an additional 500 MW to the annual power generation in the State, during the coming three years.

The Chief Minister said the government was open to explore all possibilities and options to make the State self-sufficient, if not surplus, in the energy sector. The sincerity of the government in ensuring energy security was evident from the recent commissioning of the wind farm at Ramakkalmedu, he said.

The move to set up thermal power stations was facing challenges on account of the high cost of naphtha, he said and added that once the works on the LNG terminal in Kochi becomes a reality, there would be a major change in the energy portfolio of the State.

Mr. Achuthanandan stressed the need to focus on the distribution of power and said the opposition to the present alignment to the proposed 400 kV line to bring power from the Koodamkulam project should be resolved with farsightedness.

According to the Chief Minister, the Centre is following the same polices in the energy sector which it has been following in the food sector.

The Central government was instrumental in pruning the share of rice from the Central pool, he said and added that the same government was behind the cutting down on the power share from the Central pool. The action of the Central authorities had pushed the State into a major energy crisis, but effective management by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) authorities had helped to tide over the crisis, he said.

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