Hyderabad: In view of surging electricity demand in Telangana, Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy has requested chief minister A Revanth Reddy to sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the second phase of the thermal power project being developed by NTPC at Ramagundam.The minister conveyed his request in a letter addressed to the CM on Monday. Kishan Reddy noted that the first phase of the 4,000 MW project, which comprises 2×800 MW units, was already completed and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023. The second phase is set to include three additional units with a total capacity of 3×800 MW (2,400 MW), with 85% of the electricity generated earmarked exclusively for Telangana.In his letter, Kishan Reddy emphasised the persistent increase in electricity demand in the state, referring to the historical peak demand of 18,139 MW recorded on March 3. Given the state govt’s assessment that an additional 5,000 to 6,000 MW of thermal power would be required to ensure future grid stability, the NTPC project became a critical component of the state’s energy strategy.Kishan Reddy further highlighted that NTPC employs advanced ‘ultra super critical’ technology to produce electricity at a lower cost. He pointed out that Revanth Reddy had previously acknowledged the effectiveness of this project. The Union minister asserted that if NTPC was afforded the necessary flexibility in coal allocation, it could supply high-quality electricity at an even more competitive price, thereby benefiting both the govt and the public economically. He noted that other southern states had already entered into agreements with NTPC and urged Telangana to expedite its response by signing the PPA, suggesting that the chief minister take a proactive role in this initiative.
