COPING UP INCREASING ENERGY DEMANDGENCO to develop 1,350 MW pumped storage project in AP

In a virtual meeting on Saturday, KVN Chakradhar Babu, Managing Director of APGENCO, directed officials to devise a comprehensive action plan for the swift implementation of a 1,350 MW (9X150 MW) pumped storage project. This initiative, valued at approximately Rs 7,380 crore, is part of the Prime Minister’s 100-day programme and aims to meet the State’s increasing energy demand by providing 10 million units per day during peak hours.
Chakradhar Babu expressed gratitude to Special Chief Secretary Energy K Vijayanand for his crucial support in initiating the project and commended the efforts of the APGENCO and Upper Sileru teams. He emphasised the need for meticulous planning and execution to make this one of the best-pumped storage projects in the country, under the guidance of Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar.
The project has received techno-economic clearance from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), and APGENCO has submitted necessary proposals to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for environmental clearance. Chakradhar Babu highlighted that the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of MoEF&CC was briefed on the project’s importance in meeting Andhra Pradesh’s peak demand of about 260 MU/day.
Senior engineers from APGENCO, including M Sujaya Kumar, In-charge Director/Hydel, Y Koteswara Rao, Chief Engineer/Civil/Hydel, GM Vasudeva Rao, Chief Engineer/O&M/LSHES, P Ravindra Reddy, SE/Civil/Hydel, L Swamy Naidu, SE/Elec/Hydel, and B Chandrasekhara Reddy, SE/Civil/USPSP, participated in the meeting. The MD also acknowledged the support from the CEA and MoEF&CC in advancing the project.
The development of this pumped storage project is expected to significantly bolster the state’s energy infrastructure, ensuring a reliable power supply during peak hours and contributing to the overall energy security of Andhra Pradesh