11th Plan target is 85% of present power capacity

If the power generation capacity that is to be added in the 11th Plan (2007-2012) "" 78,577 Mw "" was a difficult number to digest, here is another which is even bigger.

Capacity addition could actually be close to 1,10,000 Mw or about 85 per cent of the current installed capacity of 1,32,330 Mw, if "best efforts" by the Centre and the states yield results.

"Setting a target of 78,577 Mw is a low-risk exercise, since we know that there are more projects under construction," explained a senior power ministry official.

That, however, does not mean that these projects are without risks. They could be hit by financial hurdles, the 11th Plan working group has estimated an investment requirement of about $250 billion for this sector over the next five years; by equipment constraints and by a very real manpower constraint.

There is a severe shortage of construction equipment like cranes, dumpers, loaders and excavators (for hydro projects). According to the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC), additional equipment worth Rs 6,129 crore would need to be secured for commissioning of 14,000 Mw per year.

The CIDC's inputs will be used in the background paper prepared for a power conference next month. The aim of the conference will be to look at key inputs required for the power sector in the 11th Plan and beyond.

The paper also highlights the "immediate attention" that the manpower issue requires. The manpower gap for the hydro and thermal sector "" which account for a major chunk of capacity addition in the 11th Plan and beyond "" is a whopping 60,000.

This includes supervisory staff of about 12,000 while the rest are skilled and unskilled workers. These include welders (600), drivers (3,060), masons (2,280), crane operators (1,140) and carpenters (1,116).

While the manufacturing capacity for the main equipment for power plants "" boiler-turbines and generators "" is being increased by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL), there is also a plan to invite entrepreneurs to invest in the balance-of-plant equipment like coal handling plants, high-pressure piping, water treatment plants, cooling water systems, fire protection gear and ash handling plants.