Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, the country’s largest power transmission utility, is entering into agreements with the Kenyan and Nigerian governments for advising it on the business. The company is expected to sign agreements with the two governments by the end of this month.
Power Grid already offers consultancy services in markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Bhutan. It is already providing consultancy to Power Holding Company of Nigeria for updating of telecommunication and substation automation systems specifications.
Last year, Power Grid secured an engineering consultancy assignment for two 400kV GIS sub-stations and associated overhead transmission lines from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority. It is providing consultancy to neighbouring Bangladesh to set up a 400 kv HVDC network. It also plans to install transmission lines from the Bangladesh border . Similar opportunities are being explored in Nepal and Bhutan, which are keen to tap their hydro potential.
The company owns and operates around 72,000 circuit km of transmission lines and transmits 45 per cent of all power generated in the country. With India planning to add 78,700 Mw of generation capacity during the 11th Plan and another 100,000 Mw in the 12th Plan, huge investment in transmission will be required for evacuation of electricity. Power Grid plans to make an investment of Rs 85,000 crore in transmission projects over these two Plan periods.