End to power woes in the sight

With as many as 20 major power projects under implementation or in the pipeline, Gujarat, a power deficit state, may become power surplus over the next five years even if half of the projects are implemented by the deadline.

The deadline of maximum five years was fixed by the concerned agencies including the state energy and petrochemicals department.

As of now, eight projects, including a private initiative, are under various stages of implementation. They are expected to generate around 2,600 MW of power in the next two years.

As many as 12 projects including three from corporate houses are expected to be commercially operational by 2010, generating around 8,400 MW.

"The 112 MW project at Dhuvaran is at present under stage-II of construction. It is expected to be commissioned soon," Saurabh Dalal, minister of state for energy, said on Wednesday.

"The 250 MW lignite-based power project initiated by the state government enterprise, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), at Akrimota is expected to be completed by the next two years. Two other projects including the hydro-power project initiated by the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL) at Kevadia which is expected to bring Gujarat's share of 232 MW of power by 2006 and the 75 MW project at Panandhro by the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) are also under advanced stages of commissioning. These four projects implemented by state government agencies can generate an additional 669 MW. Torrent Power Generation Company Ltd, a part of Torrent Pharmaceuticals, is also expected to commission its 1,050 MW plant near Surat in two years," Dalal said.

Three other power projects are also under implementation by the central government agency, National Thermal Power Corporation Ltd (NTPC). These can add 914 MW of power.

Sipat project will generate 475 MW and Vindhyachal project 239 MW. From the NTPC power project in the eastern sector, Gujarat will get a share of 200 MW.

"If these projects are commissioned, we will get 2,633 MW which will make Gujarat a power surplus state. We have at present a deficit of only 1,500 MW.

To add to it, there are other two dozens of projects in the pipeline including two atomic power projects at Kakarapur near Surat and another project near Tarapur in Maharashtra.

These projects are undertaken by the Atomic Energy Commission and the department of atomic energy of the government of India.

The commission has a plant at Kakarapar and is looking at adding two more plants of 700 MW. It has started work on adding two new plants of 500 MW each at Tarapur.

From this project, Gujarat is expected to get its share, the minister said.

Apart from the two projects under the commission, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) is setting up a 1000 MW power plant at Dahej, close to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project of Petronet LNG Ltd, in which ONGC is one of the stakeholders. The plant is expected to be commissioned in the next three years.

NTPC, along with the state government, has already started working on a 1000 MW project at Pipavav in Amreili district.

"Gujarat Paguthan Electricity Company Ltd (GPEC) is expanding capacity by 1000 MW, while Essar is setting up a power plant of 1200 MW at Vadinar near its refinery in Jamnagar district. Nirma Ltd is expected to set up a 250 MW power project at Ghogha in Bhavnagar district. These three projects of private companies will add 2,450 MW for the state. State government enterprises are expected to add 1,550 MW as five projects are in pipeline," Dalal said.

These five projects include 500 MW plant to be developed by GEB at Sikka, two 300 MW projects to be developed by Gujarat State Electricity Corporation Ltd (GSECL) at Utran and Gandhinagar and a 200 MW project of the Gujarat State Electricity Generation Company Ltd (GSEG) at Hazira and a 250 MW plant at Mangrol by the Gujarat Industries Power Corporation Ltd.