SIMA explores options to meet power demand
Association chairman J. Thulasidharan told that SIMA had submitted applications to the Power Exchange India from five member mills that had dedicated feeders.The association was also in talks with private companies for inter-State and intra-State third party power purchase by individual mills.Power was available at Rs. 6.50 to Rs. 7 a unit now and if the demand, the association might consider negotiating prices. Mr. Thulasidharan said the power requirements of the member mills were 550 MW and the connected load of the textile industry in the State was 1,800 MW. The mills in the State now faced 20 per cent power cut apart from peak hour restrictions and two hours load shedding a day.
Earlier, the mills had 40 per cent power cut. With the wind energy generation declining, the power cut was likely to be increased. The market was good now and power shortage would affect the mills, he said.The association appealed to the State Government to treat textiles, especially the processing units, as “continuous process” industry.The machinery and production process would be hit if the power cut was implemented in phases every day.
The power cut could be scheduled so that mills used grid power or the power purchased continuously for a specific period, he suggested. The association also appealed to the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board to facilitate third party purchase for small and medium-scale units by bundling the demand.
