{
  "id": 14514565,
  "title": "TNPDCL will incur additional cost of ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore per day for purchase of gas power: Nirmal Kumar",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/tnpdcl-will-incur-additional-cost-of-5-crore-to-7-crore-per-day-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T19:03:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tnpdcl-will-incur-additional-cost-of-5-crore-to-7-crore-per-day-for-purchase-of-gas-power-nirmal-kumar/article71582836.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Energy Resources Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar has clarified that the TNPDCL will face an additional daily cost of ₹5 crore to ₹7 crore for procuring gas power to meet the state's evening peak demand. This additional cost is set to occur for 16 days, from October 15 to 31, as only 1,000 MW of gas-generated power needs to be purchased. Kumar stated that the majority of this gas power will be procured through the central agency, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN), eliminating any potential for corruption. He dismissed the DMK's claims of massive costs, asserting that the extra expense would be limited to the aforementioned range. The current shortage of power sources is attributed to the previous government's failure to secure long-term power purchase contracts, with the last one signed in 2013 under former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. TNPDCL plans to sign long-term contracts and is in talks with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC) for this purpose. Regarding thermal power plants' low efficiency, Kumar mentioned that north Chennai's stations were shut down for maintenance and were operating at 75% efficiency, compared to their previous 50% efficiency. He also criticized the previous DMK government for squandering over ₹6,000 crore on the discontinued Uppur thermal power plant, and affirmed that the present administration is assessing the project report to potentially resume its construction.",
  "summary": "Only 1,000 MW has to be procured, that too only to meet the evening peak demand, for 16 days from October 15 to 31, says Energy Resources Minister",
  "key_points": [
    "TNPDCL faces daily cost of ₹5-7 crore for gas power procurement.",
    "Additional cost for 16 days from October 15 to 31.",
    "Cost due to power shortage, not corruption as claimed by DMK."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}