Kottayam (Kerala) | Kerala Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph on Friday said any decision on setting up a nuclear power plant in the state would be taken only after extensive consultations with the public, political parties and elected representatives, while assuring uninterrupted power supply during the FIFA Club World Cup final this weekend.
Responding to questions over the ongoing power shortage caused by weak monsoon rains, Joseph said the proposal for a nuclear power plant at Cheemeni in Kasaragod was only one of several options being considered to address Kerala's growing energy demand.
"I have never said it would be imposed. I have only said the matter will be discussed with the public, public representatives and political parties. We have to listen to public opinion on this issue," he said, welcoming Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan's statement that such a project could not be forced on the people.
The minister said Kerala was facing a severe power crisis as electricity demand had increased sharply.
"Last year our peak requirement was around 3,500-3,600 MW. This year it has gone up to 4,700-4,800 MW, an increase of about 1,100 MW in a single year. Kerala generates only about 17 per cent of its electricity requirement through hydel, solar and wind sources," he said.
Joseph said the storage level in the state's hydel reservoirs had fallen sharply due to poor rainfall.
"Last year the storage was around 60 per cent. This year it has dropped to 28 per cent. Rainfall has declined across the country, affecting power generation, while electricity consumption has risen because of increasing temperatures, more households, electric vehicles, air-conditioners and other appliances," he said.
Appealing to consumers to conserve electricity, the minister urged people to avoid unnecessary lighting, minimise power-intensive activities during peak hours and use air-conditioners at higher temperature settings.
He said the union government was proposing to standardise air-conditioner temperatures at 27 degrees Celsius, while Kerala had suggested fixing them at 25 degrees Celsius to achieve substantial power savings.
Referring to the state's current shortage, Joseph blamed the cancellation of a long-term power purchase agreement signed during the Oommen Chandy government.
"A long-term agreement for power at Rs 4.29 per unit was cancelled by the subsequent government. Kerala is suffering the consequences of that decision now. The Kerala State Electricity Board is pursuing the matter in the Supreme Court and senior advocate Kapil Sibal is appearing for the state," he said.
The minister also highlighted the challenges in utilising solar power, saying Kerala lacked adequate storage infrastructure.
"Solar power is generated only during the day. There is no mechanism to store it for use at night. Electricity that costs almost one paisa per unit during the day can cost around Rs 10 per unit at night because demand increases and supply falls," he said.
Joseph assured football fans that there would be no power disruption during the FIFA Club World Cup final to be played on Saturday night and early Sunday morning.
"We have made special arrangements to ensure an uninterrupted power supply during the final. We are purchasing electricity for both day and night because the supplier states prefer to sell power together rather than only during the night," he said.
The minister said the government was exploring all possible options to overcome the crisis by increasing power generation and improving energy efficiency, while continuing efforts to procure additional electricity despite the high cost.
He also said Kerala was currently returning electricity borrowed from other states during March and April to tide over the summer peak demand.
"We had borrowed power with the understanding that it would be returned after the onset of the monsoon from June 15 onwards. We cannot default on that commitment. Even during the present crisis, we are honouring that obligation while making every effort to procure additional power from wherever it is available," he said.
He said that the Congress party will organise an event in memory of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in Thiruvananthapuram and at Puthupally here on Saturday.
The KPCC has organised an all-religion prayer, floral tributes, and a remembrance meet at its headquarters in the morning.
He said Oommen Chandy's commemoration will be appropriately observed across Kerala at the levels of District Congress Committees, Block Committees, Mandalam Committees, and Booth Committees.
