Lower Sileru Hydro Project expansion gets MoEFCC nod

The capacity of the project will go up from the existing 4x115 MW to 6x115 MW by adding two units of capacity 2x115 MW at Lower Sileru Hydro Power House and improvement of power canal works at Mothugundem in Chintur mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju district

Vijayawada: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), earlier known as MoEF has accorded environmental clearance to Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation (APGENCO) for increasing the capacity of Sileru Hydro Power Project.

APGENCO had conducted EIA studies after which a public hearing was held on July 27, 2022. As the contractor for providing additional units is already available, the works can be commenced at once and completed in the shortest possible time. APGENCO is planning to commission the units by the end of 2024 at a cost of Rs 415 crore.

Now, the capacity will go up from the existing 4x115 MW to 6x115 MW by adding two units of capacity 2x115 MW at Lower Sileru Hydro Power House and improvement of power canal works at Mothugundem in Chintur mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district.

A communication granting EC has been received by APGENCO which was sent from the Impact Assessment Division of the MoEFCC).

Disclosing this at a meeting with Special Chief Secretary, Energy K. Vijayanand, Managing Director of APGENCO & JMD of APTRANSCO KVN Chakradhar Babu said on Thursday that APGENCO has been operating the hydro electric project at Sileru Complex at Mothugudem from 1978 with an installed capacity of 4x115 MW. At the time of construction of the power house, a provision was made for installation of two more units of 115 MW each. Now, APGENCO has taken up installation of additional units to meet the peak time demand, to avoid the purchase of power at premium price, thus saving a lot for APGENCO.

While responding to the power-point presentation made by the MD of APGENCO here, the Special CS said that all these major things have been achieved due to the continuous monitoring of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and support from Energy Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy from time to time.

The Special CS said that the power demand had increased manifold in the State and reached a record high of 247 Million Units (MU) on April 20. The average power consumption in April has increased by five to six percent for the corresponding demand in April-2022. It is expected that demand may reach 250 MU per day in the coming days.

The additional 2x115 MW hydro power at Lower Sileru will help meet the future energy demand, he said.

Explaining about the additional units of Lower Sileru Hydro Power Project, APGENCO MD said, “As necessary infrastructure to install the additional units is already in place, the works can be completed in less time and units will be commissioned at the earliest.”