Tamil Nadu Energy Resources Minister Nirmal Kumar has said that the Ministry is systematically introducing major reforms within the Power Sector, and its first step will be delivering a well-defined Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) policy in TNEB while also reconstituting Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC).
The Minister took part in CII Coimbatore’s special interactive session on Monday assured that major reforms will be made in TNEB
“We are introducing the Battery Energy Storage Systems policies (BESS). To facilitate this, we require robust technology. We are establishing a MoU with IIT and setting up a dedicated R&D team. Within a week or two we will come out with the best BESS policy,” Nirmal Kumar said.
He also shared that the govt is actively reconstituting a new TNERC and the groundwork for it is already underway.
Talking about investments and support for MSMEs, the Minister opined that the then-government heads believed in bringing in investments from the outside for almost 2 decades.
“Our government will certainly encourage external investments but I do not believe in merely bringing in large investments from the outside. If we focus on finding the needs of our existing companies in our State and help them grow, that will be more than enough to secure a tremendous level of growth,” he said.
Nirmal emphasised that Tamil Nadu missed this specific focus over the past 15 years, which is why it strayed into searching for external investors.
“There is no better example of a thriving MSME sector in the entirety of India than Coimbatore. If the MSMEs here grow, the GDP of the entire state of Tamil Nadu will flourish, keeping us in a strong position, and that will also acts as a catalyst to make the State reach that ambitious $1.5 trillion target,” he underlined.
Minister invites Coimbatore to become supplier for TNEB
“We purchase massive quantities of equipment every year. We are looking at procuring transformers worth Rs. 5,000 crores alongside conductors and other equipment, totaling an aggregate procurement of Rs.8,000 crores.”
“It would be really great if Coimbatore steps up to supply these materials. If we can procure high-quality products locally from within Tamil Nadu rather than outsourcing to external states, it benefits everyone.”
“If any existing tender policy unfairly restricts competition or favors specific individuals, we will reform it. If a tender policy demands that you must have worked with TNEB to supply a quality product, bring it to our notice and we will reform it. We will give highest priority to Coimbatore if you could supply us quality products,” said the Minister.
Various industry association members presented their representations and also conveyed their demands.
Srinivasan, President, Tamil Nadu Hotel Association & Director, Sree Annapoorna said that Union Government declared Hotel/Restaurant under MSME category during COVID but the benefits in this category is yet to be received by this respective industry.
As hotel & restaurants are actually manufacturing and delivering products, he argued that they shouldn’t be considered retail consumers and power tariffs should be fixed for them on that basis and not in retail consumer basis.
