Kerala’s Electricity Minister Sunny Joseph said he learnt through media reports that the state government had temporarily suspended power purchases from GNA Energy, exposing a communication gap within the administration as the state weighs options to manage its electricity requirements.
Joseph said he understood from media reports that Chief Minister V D Satheesan had discussed the matter with the chairman of the Kerala State Electricity Board and the energy secretary. The reported intervention came amid controversy over Kerala’s electricity procurement plans and the government’s decision to pause purchases from GNA Energy.
Responding to questions about the chief minister’s involvement in matters handled by the electricity department, Joseph said the chief minister was above ministers and had the authority to intervene in the affairs of any department whenever necessary. He also said he had held lengthy discussions with Satheesan about the state’s power crisis.
The dispute comes as Kerala examines arrangements to secure electricity beyond its immediate supply position. Joseph said the state had managed to meet its requirements in October with assistance from power supplied by Himachal Pradesh. He said a proposal to procure electricity from Himachal Pradesh from November through May 2027 had been processed after discussions indicated that the arrangement would benefit Kerala.
The minister’s comments place two separate procurement questions at the centre of the current controversy: the temporary suspension of purchases from GNA Energy and the proposed longer-period arrangement with Himachal Pradesh. The report does not provide details of the volume, tariff, contractual terms or financial implications of either arrangement.
Joseph also said he was unaware of any move to examine a report submitted by former KSEB chairman M G Rajamanickam, which warned of an impending power crisis. The status of that report, including whether it has been formally reviewed by the government or the electricity utility, was not specified in the report.
The episode highlights the administrative importance of power procurement decisions in a state that must balance demand, available generation, contracted supply and seasonal requirements. Decisions involving the KSEB, the energy department and the state government can affect procurement costs and the continuity of supply, but the information available so far does not establish whether the suspension from GNA Energy will affect consumers or scheduled power availability.
For now, the immediate official developments are the chief minister’s discussions with the KSEB chairman and energy secretary, the temporary halt in purchases from GNA Energy, and the proposal to obtain power from Himachal Pradesh until May 2027. The government’s next position on the suspended procurement and the review of the former KSEB chairman’s warning will determine how Kerala’s power-planning dispute proceeds.
