PowerGrid to add 2,500 Mw by December

PowerGrid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) plans to enhance its inter-regional power transfer capacity by about 2,500 Mw to take the total national grid capacity to 12,000 Mw by the end of this year.

"At present, we have an inter-regional capacity of 9,500 Mw and, by December or latest by March next year, we would have a capacity of 12,000 Mw," PGCIL Chairman and Managing Director RP Singh said at a workshop organised by Independent Power Producers Association of India.

The central transmission utility has targeted inter-regional electricity transfer capacity to 30,000 Mw by the end of the 11th Plan in 2012.

Setting up this country-wide electricity grid requires an investment of Rs 70,000 crore, of which PGCIL will chip in Rs 50,000 crore, while the rest will come from private players.

Singh said the 30,000-Mw national grid was essential for adding about 13,000 Mw of generation capacity. It would also help save about Rs 52,000 crore, he added.

To strengthen its transmission network, the state-run company would also modernise its load dispatch centres, he said, adding the national load dispatch centre would be operational in Delhi in the next two years.

On the much-talked-about open access regime, Singh said open access was not a panacea for improving efficiency and creating a competitive power market.

There was a need for entering into long-term contracts and only 15-20 per cent power should be allowed to be purchased through open access, he added.