Dy. CM Bhatti Proposes Joint Venture Between Singareni and Karnataka’s KPCL

BENGALURU: Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka met with Karnataka Energy Minister K. J. George in Bengaluru to discuss bilateral energy sector cooperation, coal supplies, and a landmark proposal for a strategic partnership between state-run energy entities.

During the high-level meeting, Vikramarka proposed establishing a Joint Venture (JV) between the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) and Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL). He suggested leveraging Singareni’s 137 years of coal mining expertise to undertake operations in the captive coal blocks allotted to KPCL in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. In return, Vikramarka highlighted that Singareni could draw upon Karnataka’s extensive power sector experience to optimize the operation and expansion of its proposed thermal power stations.

In response to Karnataka’s request for an uninterrupted coal supply to meet its growing industrial power demand, the Telangana Deputy Chief Minister assured full support. He instructed Singareni officials to dispatch four rakes of coal daily to KPCL thermal stations and agreed to supply an additional 1 million tonnes of coal annually from the Naini coal mine block in Odisha.

Karnataka Energy Minister K. J. George welcomed the joint venture proposal, agreeing to set up a study committee to explore the operational feasibility of the initiative. Following the meeting, Vikramarka traveled to Devadurga taluk in Raichur district to inspect exploration activities at a gold and copper mineral block recently secured by Singareni through a public auction.