Keralam govt. likely to defer power procurement via GNA Energy

The State government is likely to put on hold a decision for short-term procurement of electricity via the over-the-counter (OTC) platform GNA Energy. The move, apparently, is based on a conclusion by the Power department that Keralam is not facing power shortage at the moment and there is no urgency for additional power purchases.

The latest development comes amid a raging controversy over Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan’s decision to opt for supplies via GNA Energy for the November 2026-March 2027 period over an offer from Himachal Pradesh. The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) had questioned the logic behind Mr. Satheesan’s decision from the perspectives of cost, peak-hour requirements and transparency.

When contacted by The Hindu, Additional Chief Secretary (Power) Puneet Kumar said the State was not facing any urgent requirement for additional supplies. The department will try to purchase power required at the best price available, he said. Mr. Kumar, who had taken charge as ACS (Power) in the November 2 bureaucratic reshuffle, said he had asked N. Prasanth — also a recent appointment as KSEB CMD — to analyse the power position. A clearer picture in this regard should emerge within one or two days, he said.