Uninterrupted power, fuel should be government's top priority: Ministry of
Power
26/05/2014 16:42
Ensuring round-the-clock power supply and easing fuel shortages should be the top focus of the new government, the Ministry of Power said in a presentation to incoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported PTI. Steps should also be taken to tap the country's vast hydro power potential, reform the distribution sector and ensure the financial viability of distribution companies, the ministry said. Fuel shortages can be mitigated by expeditiously granting environment and forest clearances to coal mines. The government should also review the cancellation of coal blocks for power projects in advanced stages of implementation, increase domestic production of gas, cap the rise in power tariffs due to a proposed gas price hike and provide financial relief to generation projects that are stranded because they haven't received promised fuel supplies. Supply of coal from mines for generation of projects in the 13th Plan period (2017-22) should also be finalised. The ministry also said the country's vast hydro power potential should be tapped. The government has set a capacity addition target of 10,897 MW for hydro power generation during the 12th Plan period (2012-17), of which 1,559 MW has been achieved so far. In the 11th Plan period, 5,544 MW of hydro capacity were added against a target of 15,627 MW. The ministry is of the view that 24-hour power supply to all is possible by ensuring adequate capacity addition by securing fuel availability and speedy regulatory clearances. The peak power deficit in the country, when demand is the maximum, fell to 5.4 per cent at 7,556 MW in April from 7.4 per cent a year ago.
26/05/2014 16:42
Ensuring round-the-clock power supply and easing fuel shortages should be the top focus of the new government, the Ministry of Power said in a presentation to incoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reported PTI. Steps should also be taken to tap the country's vast hydro power potential, reform the distribution sector and ensure the financial viability of distribution companies, the ministry said. Fuel shortages can be mitigated by expeditiously granting environment and forest clearances to coal mines. The government should also review the cancellation of coal blocks for power projects in advanced stages of implementation, increase domestic production of gas, cap the rise in power tariffs due to a proposed gas price hike and provide financial relief to generation projects that are stranded because they haven't received promised fuel supplies. Supply of coal from mines for generation of projects in the 13th Plan period (2017-22) should also be finalised. The ministry also said the country's vast hydro power potential should be tapped. The government has set a capacity addition target of 10,897 MW for hydro power generation during the 12th Plan period (2012-17), of which 1,559 MW has been achieved so far. In the 11th Plan period, 5,544 MW of hydro capacity were added against a target of 15,627 MW. The ministry is of the view that 24-hour power supply to all is possible by ensuring adequate capacity addition by securing fuel availability and speedy regulatory clearances. The peak power deficit in the country, when demand is the maximum, fell to 5.4 per cent at 7,556 MW in April from 7.4 per cent a year ago.
