Chennithala alleges corruption in Kerala govt’s Rs 8,850 crore deal to purchase energy from Adani

By Express News Service
ALAPPUZHA/KOCHI: Alleging corruption within the Rs 8,850 crore settlement signed by the Kerala State Electricity Board to buy energy from Adani Renewable Energy Park by way of Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Opposition chief Ramesh Chennithala stated the 25-year deal will guarantee a revenue of Rs 1000 crore to the Adani group.

Speaking to mediapersons at Haripad on Friday, Chennithala demanded cancellation of the settlement between KSEB and SECI signed in June and September 2019. He stated the settlement was signed benefiting from the Renewable Purchase Obligation below which every state has to satisfy a particular p.c of the facility requirement from renewable power sources. While wind energy is accessible at Rs 2 per unit, Kerala has signed an settlement to buy solar energy on the fee of Rs 2.82 per unit from the Adani group. Chennithala stated energy from different renewable sources is accessible at Rs 1 per unit.

He alleged that the LDF authorities has helped Adani by signing an settlement to loot the state for the following 25 years. No nation on the planet indicators an influence buy settlement for 25 years as the price of photo voltaic power has been declining over time. The state authorities which has been combating towards handing over Thiruvananthapuram airport to Adani group has secretly entered right into a shady take care of the identical group for energy buy, he stated.

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“The KSEB signed the agreement with Adani group for purchase of electricity at the rate of Rs 2.80 per unit for 25 years. The power purchase rate is higher than the market rate. The Union government has also played a role helping the Adani group,” Chennithala stated.

Denying the allegations, KSEB chairman N S Pillai advised The New Indian Express that the KSEB has signed the take care of Solar Energy Corporation of India following the process and there’s no settlement with Adani group. “The deal was signed after inviting tender through Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price (DEEP) portal and obtaining permission from the State Electricity Regulation Commission (SERC). There were three other bidders like Betam Wind Energy, Ostro Energy and Spring Vaayu Urja Pvt Ltd. We came to know about the successful bidder only after finalising the deal. As per the agreement 200 MW power will be provided at the rate of Rs 2.82 per unit and the remaining 100 MW will be provided at the rate of Rs 2.80 per unit,” he stated.

The chairman claimed that that is the bottom energy buy fee within the historical past of KSEB. “The Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) mandates that all electricity distribution licensees should purchase or produce a minimum specified quantity of their requirements from renewable energy sources. Non-compliance with the obligation will attract a penalty of Rs 1 per unit. As per the target, Kerala had to purchase 4 percent solar power and 8 percent power from other renewable energy sources in 2019-20. The target set by the regulator for 2020-21 is 5.25 percent and 9 percent which will go up to 6.75 percent and 10.25 percent in 2021-22,” he stated.

Pillai stated Kerala is buying further 150 MW energy by way of the Power Trading Corporation for 2 months to satisfy the rising demand attributable to summer season. The state’s day by day energy consumption has gone as much as 85 million models per day.”We are purchasing 150 MW for April and May at the rate of Rs 3.04 per unit. The power is sourced from Adani group and GMR,” he stated.