India may not achieve its target of adding 78,800 mega watt (Mw) during the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2008-12).
“We have crossed 50 per cent of the time, but reached only 18 per cent of the target,” said S Seshadri, member, Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
Speaking on the sidelines of Power Conference 2009 here, he said as against the target of 78,800 Mw, only 14,337 Mw had been commissioned so far.
One of the key reasons for the delay is long delivery time of equipment by suppliers. “Our half-yearly review shows that we can reach up to 62,300 Mw,” he said.
According to him, private sector projects are coming up on time and they (private sector) were expected to build 19 per cent of the total capacity, which is now revised to 30 per cent during the XI Plan.
Seshadri also said the Centre should look at developing coal blocks across the country in public private partnership. This would help meet the coal shortage faced by the power sector.
“Our requirement is around 488 million tonnes. The shortfall by 2011-12 would be 70 million tonnes and expected to increase to 120 million tonnes by 2012-13,” he said.
There are about 79 coal-based power stations in the country, of which 33 are critical and 20 super critical.
According to him, the country has enough coal blocks to cater to the requirements. One lakh Mw of power can be produced using coals from the existing blocks, he said, adding, “Karantaka and Punjab are generating new blocks, while Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are still struggling to develop the blocks. Other states are not taking any initiative.”
