KKNPP units 3 and 4 delayed over unpaid dues, Tangedco owes nuke plant Rs 389 cr

Seven SEBs in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Puducherry have an outstanding energy bill amounting to Rs 663 crore and delayed payment charges totalling

Rs 175 crore. Of the seven, Tangedco has the highest outstanding energy bill of Rs 389 crore and pending delayed payment charge of Rs 138 crore.

“The dues have been causing delay in the construction activities of Units 3 and 4. Non-receipt of energy bills from SEBs is hampering their day-to-day activities along with working capital management and we are unable to clear off liabilities in a timely manner,” a KKNPP official said, while raising the issue in the meeting of Commercial Sub Committee of the Central Electricity Authority on Thursday.

Tangedco wrote to KKNPP on February 15 seeking to examine the issue afresh and to provide at least 50 per cent waiver of DPC. KKNPP, however, rejected Tangedco’s request saying that the DPC was billed as per the power purchase agreement and that it is non-negotiable. “We are not in a position to consider your request for waiver of 50 per cent DPC and request you to kindly release the energy dues and DPC outstanding at the earliest,” the letter said.

Tamil Nadu gets a lion share of 1,126 MW out of the 2,000 MW KKNPP while Karnataka gets 442 MW followed by Kerala with 266 MW. Puducherry and Telangana get 68 MW and 50 MW respectively. Work is under way to construct two more units of 1,000 MW each despite opposition from the local coastal villages. The agreement has been signed between India and Russia to set up fifth and six units at Kudankulam.